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.^ V 



HISTORY 

OF THE 

TOWN OF PLYMOUTH 

CONNECTICUT 



WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



Centennial Celebration 

May 14 and 15, 1895. 



Also a Sketch of Plymouth, Ohio 

Settled bv Local Families. 



COMPILED BY 

FRANCIS' ATWATER. 




Printed, Illustrated and Bound by 

THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

MERIDEN, CONN. 

189=;. 



<4^^9o 





'^'-r 





I'M:I Aloh'^ \\( lh■h^, 



Icpciuicntly ot' him whubc protluction it is, to 
yn\ wn<Mii it i • •! tiiallv y;rccts, ns, honoring; it with your nttention, 
you arc now atxiut to turn its pn^cs, and aided by the ilUistra- 
tions which embellish it, pcruHC with more or less cnre its record 
of the people and (he times that have been in this ancient town. 
When residents of Plymouth made known their purpose to 
observe with appropriate celebration, upon May 14 and 15, 1895, 
the first centennial of the settinj; olVof the town, among manv to 
whom this intelligence was of great interest was one, who, born 
and reared till the period of youth in the town, had then gone 
elsewhere, an orphan boy, to seek, or rather imder God to make 
his fortune, and after varied ex|>erience m the rrtnotp West as 
well as in the East had at length won his \\ come the 

head of a leading publishing house located in <>ul- <>t the cities 
of Connecticut. Cherishing with fond an«l grateful atlcction the 
memories of his early years he recognized in the projected cele- 
bration an «)pportunitv of rendering a tribute of filial regard to 
his native town. Hardly had the wish sprung up within him, 
akin to that which ** heaved the breast" of the peasant poet of 

Scotland, 

\HMtt auld ScntiandN 
.N< III' plan or Ixrak could m;ik( 

t>ri<M<' It iii.itmi-.i iiuii the purpose, which at Iciij^th miitrii.in/cti 
in the result of a St>//; /"/tn //n/i'f \ of P/\niont/i, a (|u;irfo volume of 
ninety-one pages, which appeared fresh from the press on the 
dav «)f the Centennial celebration, and was one of the most 
appropriate anil pleasing teatines of that memorable occasion. 
It had been accepted in advance as the only authorized publica- 



4 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

tion of the sort in connection witli the day ; and a tliousand 
copies were donated to the town to aid in defraying the expenses 
incidental to tlie celebration. But the compiler having collected 
much valuable information beyond what entered into the .S(U/7'r///r 
History in its original form, could not be content with so limited 
a publication ; neither was he willing that a work which of 
necessity had been hurriedlv produced, with unavoidable errors 
detracting from its value, should be the finality of his endeavors 
to hand on to the future a volume which should be at once a 
contribution to the history of his native town, and a memorial of 
the first centennial celebration of its organization. It was in his 
purpose also that the book in its ultimate scope should include a 
full account of the centenary. Accordinglv he regarded the 
volume issued at that time as a provisional piiblication pre- 
paratory to one more complete and accurate which should follow 
it at the earliest practicable date. Hence this book. It is the 
tribute of a son of Plvmouth to his ci\ic mother upon the 
hundredth anniversarv of her life. The production of it has 
been a labor of love and has involved months of unwearied eflbrt 
including manv journevs and a large expenditure of means, not 
indeed without hope of pecuniary return, but with a generous 
purpose unrestricted bv considerations of personal gain. It has 
not been the product of one hand alone, but while manv col- 
laborators have contributed to it, the casting of the whole, and 
much of the composition of it, have been the work of him with 
whom the design of the book had its origin. As it now goes 
forth in its concluding form, that were an unworthy omission 
which should lea\e unspoken any mention of the public spirit, 
the amor patriai' which has had expression in the production of 
this volume, as tender and true as was manifested bv those other 
sons of Plymouth who wore the blue in the war for the Union. 
And so upon this opening page his appreciative townsmen and 
friends inscribe the name of 

Francis Atw ater, 

with grateful acknowledgement of the honoral)le and amiable 
spirit manifested bv him in gi\ing being to this memorial. 

Lcvcrcit Stearns Griggs. 



INTRODUCTION. 



T^HE history of the Town of Plymouth herewith presented is 
as near complete as can now be obtained. The early 
period is not as thoroughly covered as one could wish from the 
fact that the traditional circumstances handed down cannot at 
this late day be verified. The town recoids in the first years 
were loosely kept and alFord meagre information, while to go 
still further back to those of Watertown and Waterbury, of 
which towns Plymouth was formerly a part, it is impossible to 
define strictly the portions relating to Northbury parish as it was 
then known. The author, however, in the matter now pre- 
sented, has taken great pains to have the details as near correct 
as it is possible to get them. The Souvenir History published as 
a feature of the Centennial Celebration of the incorporation of 
the town May 14 and 15, 1S95, contained considerable here 
reprinted, but as it was accompanied with the request that any 
eriors or omissions be corrected by tiiose interested, it is pre- 
sumed as the book now goes forth the facts can be relied upon. 

It is to be regretted that only the fragmentary history of the 
ancient parish of Northbury in revolutionary times can be col- 
lated. It is known that several of her loyal sons gained honor- 
able distinction of which mention is made, that main- others 
participated of whom no trace exists, and that the material facts 
which would be of great interest to the descendants of these 
soldiers, have been lost sight of and are beyond recall. This 
parish can claim one honor, however, that no other is entitled to, 
in being the birthplace of the last pensioner of the revolutionary 
war. 

A feature of this volume which will be found interesting is a 
sketch of Plymouth, Ohio, settled bv former well known residents 
of this town, the descendants of whom now number some 400 or 
=500, many of whom still reside there. There are other towns in 
Ohio called Plvmouth, and to designate one from the other the 



6 HISTORY OF PI.VMOinH. 

one referred to has been named East Plyiiioutli hy the post office 
authorities. 

Tlie book is given up hugely to biographical sketches and 
portraits, as it is due to the genius, skill and enterprise of the 
townspeople that Plymouth lays claim to such a grand historic 
career which every son and daughter may glorify and feel proud 
of. It was here that Eli Terry developed his wonderful inven- 
tions which made American clock-making what it is to-day. 
The names of Seth Thomas, Silas Hoadley, Chauncey Jerome, 
and Hiram Camp, all former residents of Plymouth, have since 
become famous in this line. In the past century the Inisiness has 
grown to vast proportions, and millions upon millions of clocks 
liave gone forth from Connecticut alone. Otlier names deserving 
of the highest praise are those of James Terry and Sereno Gav- 
lord, who it is safe to say, were the successful founders of the 
cabinet and trunk lock business in this countrv. The local com- 
pany, which has grown to be a vast concern, owes its prosperity 
entirely to their forethought, perseverance and integrity. 

The author, knowing of how much importance Plymouth 
has been to the country, has undertaken to preserve so much of 
its history as is now availal)le, trusting, as the years go by that 
it will be appreciated and v;dued for its intrinsic wortli. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH. 



Act of Incorporation, Describing the Boundary Lines and the Stipulations to be 
Abided By— Disposition of the Poor of the Old Town— List of Incorporators- 
Grand List-First Officers- Full List of Representatives, Judges of Probate 
and Town Clerks. 

THE town of Plymouth was Hist made distinct as the society 
of Noithbury in 17S0, when it was incorporated with the 
society of Westbury under the name of Watertown, botli societies 
being set otVfrom Waterbury. In 1795 Nortlibury was set oft' as 
ii town by itself, called Plymouth, under the following act of the 
legislature : 

A/ a Goieral Assembly of the State of Connecticut^ holden at 
Hartford^ in said State^ on the second Thursday of May., 
Anno Doni.., ^795 •' 

Upon the memorial ol" the inhabitants of the town of Water- 
town, showing to tlie Assembly that the said town and the same 
as now incorporated, inchuling the parishes of Westbury and 
Northbury, and a part of the parish of Northfield, extends from 
east to west, on the north adjoining on Harwinton and Litchfield, 
about ten miles and a half; and irom north to south, adjoining- 
west on Woodbury and Bethlehem, about eight miles ; and from 
west to east, adjoining on the south on Waterbury, about nine 
miles; and from soutli to north, adjoining east on Bristol, about 
fiye miles and a half; and that the same is so situated that it is 
very inconyenient to do this town business ow'ing to the badness 
of the roads, length of the way, and other incomeniences, and 
also showing that the situation of said town and their amount in 
the list are sufficient to entitle them to be incorporated into two 
distinct towns, and that they are willing to be restricted to one 
representatiye from each town at the General Assembly, praying 
tor relief as per memorial on file. 

Resolird, by tliis Assembly, that all the land lying in the 
limits of said Watertown, west of the riyer Naugatuck, and 



iiisioi:\' oi-- pi.vMOUTir. 




South Street. 

PlNTTlOUlll. 



Main Strrc't, 
PIvmouth. 





Winter Scene. 

South Street, 

Plvmoutli. 



THE TOWN OP^ PLVMOUTH. 9 

soutlivvest ot the west branch of saitl river, and the inliabitants 
within the said limits, shall retain the said name of Watertow n, 
and shall have and retain all the books of records belonging to 
said towns, and shall have and retain all the privileges insislant 
to any other town in this State, except only that said town shall 
hereafter send bnt one Representative to the General Assembly 
of this State, and that the said town of Watertovvn siiall hereafter 
support all the poor who resided within its limits on the 5th tlay 
of Alay, A. D., 1795, except one Mable Ludlngton, of said 
Watertown — and that all the lands 1) ing within limits of the 
original town of vVateitown, east of the river Naugatuck and 
northeast of tlie west branch of said river, and the inhabitants 
living within those limits, be incorporated into a distinct town 
by the name of Plymouth, with all the privileges and under the 
same regulations of any other in this State, except only that said 
town last mentioned shall hereafter send but one Representative 
to the General Assembly of this State, and that said town of 
Plymouth shall hereafter maintain all the poor who resided 
within its limits on the ^th of instant May and also maintain the 
said jVIable Ludington, and the now town of Watertown shall 
maintain all the bridges within its limits, and also all bridges 
across the west branch of said river Naugatuck, and that the said 
town of Plymouth shall maintain all the bridges within its limits 
except the bridges across said west branch. And that the new 
town of VVatenown shall pay to the said town of Plymouth, 
agreeable to stipulation by them heretofore made, the sum of 
eighty-seven pounds, ten shillings, lawful money, to be made in 
two equal payments, the one-Iialf to be paid in four months Irom 
the rising of this Assembly, and the remainder to be paid in one 
year from the expiration of said four months, and the whole 
which remains unpaid at the end of said four months to be on 
interest from that time until paid, and that the said town of Ply- 
mouth shall have a town meeting on or before the loth day of 
July next, to choose town officers for the said town, which said 
town meeting shall be warned bv a warrant signed by David 
Smith, Esq., posted on the public sign-post in said town, at 
least five days before iiolding said meeting, and the said David 
vSmith, Esq., shall be moderator of said meeting, and said town 
shall then and there proceed to appoint a Town Clerk and other 
town ofticers for said town, wiio shall continue in oftice until the 
14th dav of December, or until others are chosen in their room, 
and that all the debts and credits of said original town of Water- 
town shall be equallv divided between the said new town of 
Watertown and Plymouth, according to their respective lists in 
the A. D., 1794; and whereas. Samuel Hickcox, Jr., and 
Boadice Williams, who now resides within the limits of the 
present town of Watertown. were not taken into consideration in 
the division of the poor of the original town of Watertown, it is 
to be understood that if said Samuel Hickcox, or both the said 
Samuel and the said Boadice Williams shall necessarilv become 
chargeable to the respective towns to which they belong, the 
expense of their support, while so chargeable, is to be paid by the 



lO HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

said new towns in proportion to the respective lists of their polls 
and rateable estate, but if the said Boadice Williams shall 
become necessarily chargeable and the said Samuel shall not be 
so chargeable, then the new town of VVatertown shall be at the 
whole expense of the support of the said Boadice Williams, 
while so chargeable. 

A true copy of records examined by George Wyllys, 
Secretary. 

The" foregoing is entered agreeable to an attest and copy of 
the records of the General Assembly by 

J. A. WRIGHT, Toicn Clerk. 

The list of incorporators were as follows, including a few^ 
female tax payers: 

David Adkins. Eli Barnes. 

Timothy Atwater. Ebenezer Barnes. 

Ebenezer Ailing Joseph Barnes. 

James Ailing. Eliphalet Barnes. 

John Ailing. Isaac Barnes. 

John Atwater. Caleb Barnes. 

Solomon Ailing. Dan Barnes. 

Justice Andrus. Zoplier Barnes. 

Daniel Adkins. Ambrose Barnes. 

Ambrose Averit. Daniel and Isaac Bartholomew. 
(This person is probable the Eliasaph Barker. 

same as 'Ambrose Avery" Silas Booth. 

in 179s)- Abel Baldwin. 

Samuel Alcox. Eli Baldwin. 

Amos Avery. Thaddeus Baldwin. 

Amos Blakslee. Gilbeit Beach. 

Moses Blakslee. Asahel Bradley. 

Gad Blakslee. Ebenezer Bradley, Sr. 

Abner Blakslee. Zachariah Beckwith. 

Abner Blakslee, Jr. Noah M. Bronson. 

Micajah Blakslee. Amos Bronson. 

Asher l^lakslee. Amos Bronson, Sr. 

Asher Blakslee, Jr. Ambrose Bunnell. 

Samuel Blakslee. Hezekiah Bunnell. 

Jaicd Blakslee. Titus Buimell. 

Adna Blakslee. John Brown, Sr. 

David Blakslee. Hezekiah Brown. 

Eli Blakslee. Ebenezer Bailey. 

Joel Blakslee. Stephen Brainard. 

Salmon l^lakslee. Levi Bas'^ett. 

Micah ISlakslee. Miles Curtis. 

Jude Blakslee. Zadoc Curtis. 

Rela Blakslee. Isaac Curtis. 

Nathaniel Barnes. Jesse Curtis. 

Nathaniel E. Barnes. Elihu Curtis. 



INCORPOKATOHS OF PLYMOUTH. 



Oliver Curtis. 
Samuel Curtis. 
Benjamin Curtis. 
Arba Cook. 
Lemuel Cook. 
Justice Cook. 
Samuel Camp. 
Ephraim Camp. 
Isaac Camp. 
Benajah Camp. 
Elam Camp. 
Riverus Carrington. 
Ebenezer Cowles. 
Moses Cowles. 
Reuben Culver.^ 
Daniel Culver. , 
Amasa Castle. 
Abel Clark. 
Joseph Clark. 
Jehiel Clark. 
William Crosby. 
Jere Cooper. 
Dana Dunbar. 
Aaron Dunbar. 
Miles Dunbar. 
David Dunbar. 
Amos Dunbar. 
Joel Dunl^ar. 
Jonathan Dunbar. 
Enos Dutton. 
Eliasaph Doolittle. 
Ebenezer Darrow, Jr. 
Asa Darrow. 
Titus Darrow. 
Ezra Dodge. 
Ira Dodge. 
Thomas Dutton, Jr. 
John Fancher. 
Ithiel Fancher. 
Ebenezer Ford. 
Amos Ford. 
Enos Ford. 
Daniel Ford. 
Samuel Fenn. 
Samuel Fenn, Jr. 
Jesse Fenn. 
Jason Fenn. 
Jacob Fenn. 
Aaron Fenn. 
Eber Fenn. 
Isaac Fenn. 
Gershom Fenn. 



Abijah Fenn. 

Lyman Fenn. 

Elisha Frost. 

Elijah Fenton. 

Ebenezer Goss. 

Ira Gaylord. 

Cyrus Gaylord. 

Lemming Gaylord. 

Samuel Gilbert. 

Solomon Griggs. 

Paul Griggs. 

Hosea Giidley 

Benoni Hough. 

Zachariah Hitchcock. 

Nathaniel Hall. 

Benjamin Hall. 

Jacob Hall. 

Zacheus How. 

AbriUiam Heaton. 

Abraham and Jacob Heming- 
way. 

Benjamin Hickcox. 

Joel Hickcox. 

Asahel Hickcox. 

Seaman Hickcox. 

James Hill. 

David Humiston. 

Jesse Humiston. 

Ashbel Humiston. 

Seth Hungeiford. 

Benjamin Hull. 

Ira Hull. 

Eliphalet Hartshorn. 

Gains Hills. 

Elnathan Ives. 

Robert Jerom. 

Eldad Jerom. 

Timothv Jones. 

Esther Johnson. 

Chandler Johnson. 

Harvey Judd. 

Elijah Jordan. 

Brainard Lindsley. 

Thomas and William Lattin. 

Oliver Loomis. 

Isaiah Loomis. 

Samuel Lewis. 

David and Jonathan Luding- 
ton. 

Joel Langdon. 

Benoni Moss. 

William Munson. 



iiisTo:;v OF Plymouth. 




Old 

Graveyard. 
Plvmcmtli. 



Tlioinaston 
Reservoir, on 
PIvmouth Hill 





Falls at 
Grexstonc, 
Flymoiilh. 



THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH. 



13 



Obadiah Munson. 
Isaac Miller 
Tiiomas Merchant. 
Thomas Merchant, Jr. 
Zehnlon Mosier. 
Daniel Mead. 
Mead Merrills. 
Daniel Mills. 
Isaac Morris. 
Lydia Matthews. 
Caleb, Jr., and Simeon Mat- 
thews. 
Gideon Northrop. 
Joseph Northrop. 
John Osborn. 
Abner Osboin. 
Samuel Pardee. 
Stephen Pardee. 
Samuel Potter. 
Jacob Potter. 
Zenas Potter. 
Thomas Potter. 
Lake Potter. 
Ira Potter. 
Eliakim Potter. 
Daniel Potter. 
John Painter. 
Thomas W. Painter. 
Lent Parker. 
Jonathan Pond. 
Caleb Preston. 
Noah Preston. 
Jesse Penfield. 
Samuel Royce. 
David Royce. 
Jacob Royce. 
vSamuel Reynolds. 
Daniel Rowe. 
James Smith, 
David Smith. 
Aaron vSmith. 
Lemuel Sperry. 
Jesse Scovil ' 
Sele Scovil. 
Selden Scovil. 
Eleazer Scovil..^ 
Oliver Stoughton. 
Thankful San ford. 
Anna Sanford 
Eli Sanford. 
Jesse Sanford. 
Joel and Eri Sanford. 



Samuel Sanford. 

Samuel Sanford, Jr. 

James Shelton. 

David Shellon. 

Ziba Se} mour. 

Abel Seymour. 

Stephen Se} mour. 

Amos Seymour. 

Gideon Seymour 

Selah Sevmoui". 

Titus Seymour. 

John Sutlirt'. 

Abel Sutliti". 

Lucas Sutlirt'. 

David Sutlirt". 

Samuel Sutlirt'. 

Samuel Thomas. 

James Thomas. 

Edmund Thompkins. 

Edmund Todd. 

Samuel and Oliver Todd. 

Samuel Tuttle. 

Lemuel Tuttle. 

Bostvvick Tuttle. 

William Tuttle. 

Ozias Tyler and OziasT\]er, Jr. 

Victory and Beach Tomlinson, 

Bethuel Turner. 

Jesse Turner. 

Amzi Talmage. 

Eli Terry. 

Noah Upson. 

Reuel Upson. 

Ashbel Upson. 

Anna Upson. 

Noah Warner. 

Lyman Warner. 

John Warner. 

John Warner, Jr. 

James Warner. 

Chauncev Warner. 

Elijah Warner. 

Joseph Warner. 

Benjamin Warner. 

Aaron Warner. 

Ozias W^arner. 

Thomas W av. 

Samuel Way. 

Eli Welton." 

Atma and Asa Wei ton. 

Aner Woodin. 

Jesse Woodin. 



14 JIlSrOKV OK I'LV.MOUTH. 

Eri Woodin. Gideon Woodruff. 

Joseph A. Wright. John Williams. 

Ambrose Ward. Obed Williams. 

Antipas Woodward. Jesse Weed. 

Samuel Wheadon, AUvn Wells. 

The following persons are particularly mentioned as tax 
payers residing outside the town limits: 

Jonathan J. Truesdell, Bristol. 
Abner Wilson, Harwinton. Widow Gaylord, Bristol. 

Watertovvn, August 20, 1794. 

A true Copy of the List of Polls and Rateable Estate, 
together with the Assessments of the Society of Northburv, as 
made out by us, the subscribers. 



Samuki- Rovce, 

Lake Potter, 

Aakox Smith, ^ 



[> Listers under oath. 
I 



Chau.ncev W^vrxer, j 

vSum total of Northbury List, . . £11,073-12-3 

Additions, ..... 273-1 2-1 

Fourfolds, ..... 294 2-0 



£\ 1,640- 6-4 
December 29, 1794. 
Sum total of Watertown List, . . £24,743-11-3. 

On the original List the abo\ e CcrtiHcate precedes the 

names. 

FIR.ST town OFFICER.S. 

Wednesda3 , June 24, 1795. 
At a town meeting held agreeable to the resolve of the 
General Assembly for incorporating the town of Plymouth, of 
which David Smith, Esq., was appointed Moderator, the fol- 
lowing town officers were appointed, viz. : Joseph Allyn 
Wright, Town Clerk or Register; Aaron Dunbar, Joseph A. 
Wright and Abram W'eston, Selectmen ; Ozias Tyler, Elisha 
Frost and Eli Barns, Constables; Jesse Scovil, Amos Ford and , 
Amzi Talmadge, Grand Jurors; Joseph Allyn Wright, Town 
Treasurer; Ashbel Upson, Miles Dunl:>ar, Noah Miles Bronson, 
Robert Jerome, Tythingmen ; Elisha Frost, Lake Potter and 
Chawncey Warner, Listers; Elisha Frost, Collector of .State 
Taxes; Antipas Woodward, Keeper of the Pound Key; Jude 
Blakeslee, Sealer of Leather ; Antipas Woodward, Sealer of 
Weights and Measures; Ozias Tyler and Levi Bassett, Com- 
mittee to Remove Encroachments from Flighway ; Aaron Dun- 
bar, Town Ascent; Timothv Atwater, Jason Fenn, Elias Doo- 
little, Elihu Curtiss, Amos Ford, Jesse Turner, Ozias Tyler, 



WEIGHTS AND MKASURES OK PJ.VMOUTH, 



15 




Gorge. Devil's Backbone, 
Plymouth. 




Articles used to Seal Weights and Measures. 
Supposed to be 100 Years Old. 



l6 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

Ephraini Camp, Selah Scovil, Etlmond Todti, John Atwater, 
Noah Warner, Janies Smith, Eli Welton, Samuel Reynolds and 
Benjamin Hickcox, Surveyors of High\\a\s ; Timothy Atwatt-r 
and Aaron Fenn, Fence Vievveis. 

Voted. That the Selectmen be a committee to settle the 
account of debts and credit of the old town of Watertown 
between the present town of Watertown and Plymouth. 

I'otfdi That the time of holding the annual town meeting in 
this town be at nine o'clock in the morning of the second Mon- 
day in Decembei". 

Vott'd^ That this meeting be dismissed. 

7'est., J. A. WRIGHT, 7'oa'u Clerk. 

REPRESEXTATn'ES OF IHE TOWN. 

While Northbury (now Plymouth) was a part of AVatertown, 
it appears that one of the two representatives was from North- 
bury. The legislature held tvyo sessions each }ear, one in May 
and one in October, and there were two elections in each year. 
The name of David vSmith appears frequenth- in the list of rep- 
resentati\es from Watertown. His titles on ihc record are Mr., 
Majoi", and Colonel. He is known by tiadition as General. 
He lived in the house Mrs. Curtiss now occupies, and had a 
store near bv. 

David Smith, 1796, 1797. Elijah Warner, Jr., 1S31. 

Lake Potter, 179S. Silas Hoadley, 1S32. 

Daniel Potter, 1799, iSoo. Elijah Warner, Jr., 1S33. 

David Smith, iSoi. Eli Potter, 1S34-5-6. 

Lake Potter, 1S02. Silas Hoadley, 1S37. 

David .Smith, 1S03-4-5. Tertius D. Potter, 183S, 1S39. 

Lake Potter, 1806-7-S. Apollos Warner, 1S40. 

Daniel Potter, 1S09, iSio. John S. ^Varner, 1S4J. 

David Smith, iSii. Heman Welton, 1S43. 

Lake Potter, 1S13, sp'g session. Henry Teriy, 1S44. 

David Smith, iSi2,fall session. Barnabas W. Root, 1S45. 

Lake Potter, 1S13. Silas B. Terry, 1S46. 

Calvin Butler, 1S14. Levi B. Heaton, 1847. 1S4S. 

Jacob Hemingway, 1S15. Jolm C. Lewis, speaker, 1849. 

Calvin Butler, 1S16, 1S17. Sereno Gavlord, 1S50. 

Roderick Stanlev, Oct., 1S17. Ammi Giddings, 1S51. 

Calvin Butler, May, iSiS. Edward Thomas, 1S52. 

Jacob Hemingwav, Oct., iSiS. Silas Hoadk-y, 1S53. 

Jacob Hemingwav, 1819. RoUiir D. IL Allen, 1S54. 

[acob Hemingwav, Mav, 1S20. Lewis F. Grant, 1855. 

Gideon Woodruti", Oct., 1S20. Ammi Giddings, iS^6. 

Calvin Butler, 1821, 1S22. Wm. E. McKee, 1857. 

Thomas Mitchell, 1823, 18.4. Noah A. Norton. 1S58. 

Elijah Warner, Jr., 1825. George Langdon, 1S59. 

Ransom Blakeslee, 1826, 1S27. James Terry. 18^0. 

Calvin Butler, 1828. Hiram Pierce, 1861. 

.Samuel Guernsev, rS29, 1830. Samuel T Salisburv, 1862. 



TOWN OFFICERS. 



'7 



Gains A. Norton, 1S63. 
Seth Thomas, 1S64. 
Henrv Sturgiss, 1865. 
N. Taylor Baldwin, 1S66. 
Seth Thomas, 1S67, 
Aaron P. Fenn, 1868. 
Edward Dai ley, 1869. 
Thomas J. Bradstreet, 1870. 
Lyman D. Baldwin, 1S71. 
N. Taylor Baldwin, 1S73. 
George A. Stoughton, 1S73. 
Randall T. Andrews, 1874. 
Abijah W. Welton, 1875. 
Walter H. Scott, 1876. 
Lvman D. Baldwin, 1S77. 



Rollin D. H. Allen, 1878. 
Lyman D. Baldwin, 1879. 
Jason C. Fenn, 1S80. 
N. Taylor Baldwin, 1881. 
Enos Blakeslee, 1S82. 
Timothy B. McNamara, 18S3. 
Homer E. Cook, 18S4. 
Ira M. Bevans. 1885. 
Edgar L. Pond, 1886. 
Horace Fenn, 1887. 
Willis G. Barton, 1889. 
Wilbert N. Austin, 1891. 
Erastus Fenn, 1893. 
Henry E. Stoughton, 1895. 



JUDGES OF PROBATE. 



Calvin Butler, 1S33-1S41. 
Elisha Johnson, 1S4:;, 1S43. 
C. R. Butler, 1844. 
Henry B. Graves, 184^ 
Elisha Johnson, 1846. 
Henry B. Graves, 1847. 
Barnabas W. Root, 1S48. 
Elisha Johnson, 1849, iS^o. 
Ammi Giddings, 1851, 1S52. 
Elisha Johnson, 1853. 
Ammi Giddings, 1854. 
Aaron D. Wells, 1855. 



Ammi Giddings, 18^6-1864. 
V. R. C. Giddings, ^1865-1868. 
Augustus H. Fenn, 1869, 1S70. 
Geo. Pierpont, 1871, 1872. 
Augustus H. Fenn, 1873-1875. 
Geo. Pierpont, 187^^. 
Geo. W. Cole, 1S76, 1877. 
Bvron Tuttle, 1878-1881. 
Abijah W. Welton, 1882. 
Byron Tuttle, 1884, 1888, 1891. 
Horace Fenn, 1891. 
Jason C. Fenn, 1893-189^. 



TOWN CLERKS. 



Joseph A. Wright, 179:^-1815. 
Calvin Butler, 1815-1835. 
Edwin Talmadge, i83;-iS38. 
Calvin Butler, 1838, 1839. 
Egbert T. Butler, 1840. 
Calvin Butler, 1841. 
Calvin R. Butler, 1842. 
Elisha Johnson, 1S43. 
Abraham B. Doolittle, 1S44. 
Malcolm N. Butler, 1845. 
Elisha Johnson, 1847. 
Ammi Giddings, 1853. 



Elisha Johnson, 1853. 
Barnabas W. Root, 1854. 
Ammi Giddings, 1856. 
V. R. C. Giddings, ^1865.* 
Augustus H. Fenn.-j" 
Geo. Pierpont, 1873. 
Augustus H. Fenn, 1S74. 
Geo. Pierpont, 1S75. 
Edwin M. Talmadge, 1879. 
Frederick E. Beach, 1888. 
Oscar D. Beach, 1890. 
Jason C. Fenn, 1S91-1S95. 



* Resigned April 5. 1S69. 

t Appointed to fill vacancv, 1869. 



iS 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




T.fS'^^h'iffc'?^ ^ — u*l^ 




Pastoral 
Scene in 
PKmouth. 



Circular 

Dam, 

Pequabuck 





Wooden Bridge 

at 

Tlioniaston, 

Recentl\- 
Demolished. 



CHAPTER II. 



EARLY HISTORY 



The Wilderness of the Naugatuck Valley First Penetrated by a Hunting Party in 
1657 -Tunxis Tribe of Indians Original Proprietors— Part of Waterbury, Later 
Parish of Northbury, and One Hundred Years Ago Incorporated as Town of 
Plymouth. 

THE Centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town 
of Plymouth, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 14 and 15, 
1S95, may lead the reader unfamiliar with its history to believe 
that no settlement of its territoiy existed prior to 1795. If 
such an impression should prevail it would be misleading. 
The landing of the Pilgrims occurred at Plymouth, Mass., in 
1620, and in 1634 the first settlement was made in Con- 
necticut. This was at Wethersfield, Windsor and Hartford. 
In 1640 some of the inhabitants removed to Farmington, being 
the first in the state to go away from navigable waters. As 
early as 1657 '^ P^^'^y on a hunting excursion had penetrated the 
wilderness as far as the Naugatuck valley, making the first 
known discovery of this territory 248 years ago. The party 
found what they thought to be a mine of black lead, and applied 
to the Tunxis tribe of Indians, who were the original proprietors 
of the town, for the right to work it, which right was conveyed 
to them in a deed, now recorded in Farmington. 

This is believed to be the earliest title of the white men to 
the region. It embraces the entire territory of the town of 
Plymouth, the traditional site of the lead mine being a little 
north of the Harwinton line, on the east side half a mile back of 
the highway running past the house of Alfred Cleveland, in the 
woods. The marks are still apparent of rock-blasting, which 
could only have been for mining purposes. There is a spring 
which from time immemorial has borne the name of the Lead- 
Mine Spring. No immediate settlement seems to have re- 
sulted from this discovery. The anticipations of wealth to be 
derived from the mine were not realized and it was abandoned. 
The original settlement of the valley was begun down the river, 
at what was first known as Mattatuck, and afterwards as 
Waterburv. The interval on which that citv stands seems not 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Main 

Street, 

Terr\ville. 



Four 
Corners, 
Terr\'ville 





Terryville 

School 

Children, 

i860. 



EARLY SETTLERS OF PLYMOUTH. 21 

to have been discovered by white men till some sixteen years 
after the lead-mine deed was given, the tirst recorded report of it 
bearing the date of October 6, 1673. 

The early history of the town of "Waterbury, in which 
Plymonth was originally included, has been fully written and 
need not be repeated here. Suffice it to say that the General 
Court, upon the report of its " viewing" committee, granting the 
petition of the Farmington people, authorized "the settin of a 
plantation at Mattatuck," and appointed a committee "to regu- 
late and order it." This the committee proceeded to do. 
Articles of association and agreement, bearmg the date of June 
6, 1674, were drawn up and signed by the proposed settlers. 
A site was selected for the village ; and after a delay of three 
years, caused by the great Indian war of New England, known 
as " King Philip's war," in 1677 a settlement was begun. 

At the outset, the committee of the General Court appointed 
to superintend the settlement ordered that, "for benefit of 
Christian duties and defense against enemies," the inhabitants of 
the new plantation " should settle near together." Accordingly, 
prior to the vear 1700, all the inhabitants lived in the town 
center or immediate neighborhood. But as the lands at the 
center were taken up the new settlers had to find room in the 
remote parts of the town. It is not till 173^ or 1730 that there is 
any trace of settlers in the northern part, and here the historv of 
Plvmouth as a distinct communitv begins. 

The first settler of the town, so far as known, was Henry 
Cook. He came with a family about 1728 and had a farm on 
the west bank of the river not far from the Litchfield boundary. 
He was the grandson of Henry Cook of Salem, Mass , 
before 1640. He had a grandson Lemuel, who was one of the 
last pensioners on the roll of tlie Revolutionarv war, and who 
lived to be over 103 vears old. John Sutlift" appears to have 
been the next settler. He came with a familv from Branford 
about 1730 and built on the west side of the river on what is 
known as the West Branch. These two men are mentioned in 
a vote of the town of Canterburv, December 14, 1730, providing 
outside schools, as living at " Wooster Swamp," a term by 
which all the northern and northwestern part of the town was 
designated. 

Mr. Sutlift' was a leading man in all the early history of the 
new communitv. After him came Thomas Blakeslee, North- 
burv's first "captain," an office in that day second in rank and 
honor onlv to that of minister; Isaac Castle from Westbury ; 
Barnabas Ford, the chief land owner, from Wallingford ; Gideon 
Allen from Guilford ; John Humaston from North Haven ; Eben- 
ezer Richason from Canterburv ; Samuel Towner, Ebenezer 
Elwell, Jonathan Foot and others. These were called "up 
river" or " northern people," bv the inhabitants of the center of 
the town, and thev soon began to organize as a distinct com- 
munitv. 

In all the early New England t^wns the first movements 
toward distinct organization were in the direction of church 



22 



HISTORY OP' PLYMOUTH. 




Old Carriage 

Slinp, Plxmoutll 

Hill. 



Plymouth Hill 
School House. 










M 


F^^Sbs^ - * * «' &S*^^S?'Tistfc^ 


i ■ 


t^^?^ 





First Iron 
I'.riJgL' 0\er 
u- Naa:^atuck. 



EARI.V SETTLERS OF PEYMOUTH. 23 

privileges. The earliest organization was ecclesiastical. The 
tirst public body organized was the church. The hrst public 
building erected was the meeting house. The first public officer 
provided for was the minister. As an old writer says: " In the 
first settlement of New England, when the people judged their 
number competent to obtain a ministei', the} then severally seated 
themselves, but not before, it being as unnatural for a New 
England man to live without the minister as for a smith to work 
his torge without a fire." 

The earliest history of Plymouth therefore, is the history 
of the church. No sooner had the "northern" inhabitants 
become numerous and strong enough to do something independ- 
ently for themselves than they began to move for independent 
religious provision, to which by law they were required to pay 
taxes for the minister's support. At first, in 1732, they joined 
themselves with the northwestern inhabitants, now Watertown, 
in the endeavor to obtain independent "winter privileges" — that 
is the privilege of hiring a minister to preach among them during 
the winter months, with exemption during the period from 
parish rates at the center. Soon after the settlement west of the 
river, settlers began to locate on the hills east, and before long 
the west side settlers found it for their advantage to combine 
with their east side brethren and the united sections began to act 
together as one communit}'. 

In 1737 they opened their campaign for independence. In 
October of that year, Henry Cook, Ebenezer Elwell and Samuel 
Towner, on the ground of their li\ing so far from the meeting 
house, requested the town to allow them and others to hire 
preaching the ensuing winter and to abate their parish rates 
while they should thus hire. The town curtly voted "to do 
nothing in the case." Two years later, September 27, 1736, 
Thomas Blakeslee, Henry Cook, Jonathan Cook, John How, 
Jonathan Foot, John Sutlift\ Jr., Samuel Towner, .Samuel 
Frost, Barnabas Ford, Ebenezer Elwell, Gideon Allen, Isaac 
Castle, Daniel Curtis, and John Humaston, fourteen in number, 
united in a touching appeal to the town. The appeal did not 
prevail. 

The petitioners did not give up. Indeed it seems from 
some after action that the town at this meeting did take some 
action in their favor. But whatever it was the town either 
recalled or denied it, and the privileges asked for were refused. 
A month later, October 26, 1736, the recjuest was repeated in 
writing as before, signed by twelve persons, asking that all living 
" within two and one-half miles of Barnabas Ford's new dwelling 
house" be allowed the privilege of hiring for three years, three 
months in a year — December, Januarv and February — with 
exemption from ministerial rates from the center for the time. 
The town voted to grant the request. But as before, either 
through misunderstanding or change of view on the part of the 
town, the proposed exemption was denied and the "up river" 
people were back where they were before. 

At a town meeting the next sjiring, April 18, i737' " '^^ ^^'^^ 



24 



HISTORY OF PLY MO rx IF 




Terryville 
Watering 
Trough. 



Main 

Street, 

Terrxville. 





Street in 
Terr\\ ille. 



EARLY SETTLERS OF PLYMOUTH. 25 

asked whetlier the said northern inhabitants shall be exempt 
from ministerial charge by the town for so much time as they 
shall hire a gospel minister among them, in addition to a grant 
made them September 39," and an answer was given by a vote 
in the negative. vStill the northern people did not give it up. 
Despairing of the consent of the town, they now, at the May 
session, 1737? applied direct to the General Assembly, which in 
these days was supreme in affairs of church as well as state. 
They state they live "on a tract of land about five miles square, 
whereof Barnabas Ford's dwelling house is the center; that the 
town voted, September 29, 1736, that they might have a minister 
for three months for three years, with exemption from ministerial 
charges the said term ; that they had supplied a preacher and 
are now obliged to pay rates." Thev asked winter privileges, 
and the usual exemption from taxes. The petitioners are 
sixteen in number, the same as those who signed the petition to 
the town on September 29, except that three new names, those 
of Amos Matthews, Ebenezer Richason and Phineas Royce 
appear, and Jonathan Cook's does not. The town resisted the 
application and it was denied. 

At the October session of the same year, however, the peti- 
tion was renewed. The General Assembh' granted it and so 
the new community scored one in their effort at independence. 
This act of the General Assembly was the first charter of the 
town of Pljinouth. It was the first official recognition of it as a 
distinct community, and from it all the rest of its full investment 
as a town naturally follow\s. 

The dwelling house of Barnabas Ford, here specified as the 
center and landmark of the new community, stood on the stieet 
leading past tlie academy' in what is now Thomaston, on the 
west side of the road, about where the academy stands. There 
was a spring of water near it by the roadside, which doubtless 
determined the site of the house, as it did the location of the 
dwellings of manv of the earlv settlers, before they had time to 
dig wells, at which spring the bo3'S who went to church in later 
years on "The Hill" used to drink, as they footed it back and 
forth from Thomaston in the hot summer days. 

Mr. Ford was the first clerk of the society when it came to 
be organized, and appears from the manv deeds bearing his 
name, to have been an extensive owner of lands in the vicinity. 
His body lies in the old burying ground (Thomaston). His 
tombstone bears this inscription : " Here lyeth ye body of 
Barnabas Ford ; he died March ve 10, 1746, in ve 53 year of his 
age." 

Encouraged by this initial success, the northern people 
petitioned the General Assembly at the next May session (1738) 
for exemption from ministerial charges " for such time only as 
they had the word dispensed." The petitioners represent that 
they live, the nearest seven miles, the greater part eight, and 
many nine or ten miles from the meeting house, on the w^iy to 
which they were obliged to cross the river, often deep and 
dangerous, nine times. The si^fners number nineteen. The 



26 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



Official Slieep Marks. 




Smith Homestead, Plvmouth Center. 



EAKI.V SEFILKKS OF PLYMOUTH. 27 

names of Jeremiah Peck, afterwards first deacon of the church, 
Caleb Humaston, alterwards one of the most prominent mem- 
bers of the societ}', and who gave the name to Humaston Hill, 
and others appearing for the first time. This application was 
denied, but at the October session following it was renewed, 
twenty-three signing. They say that the three years' privilege 
which had been granted them expires the February ensuing, and 
ask that it may be extended for two years. They allege they 
have a population of 139 ; that to get to meeting at the town 
center they have to remove bars and open gates at ten difl'erent 
places. 

At this time the only road to Waterbury from the northern 
quarter was a path through the fields, guarded by bars and gates 
between the difierent inclosures. The present river road was 
not constructed and opened as a highway till 1802, and was 
considered a great undertaking in its time. A cart bridge — 
the earlv settlers had no other vehicles — was built across the 
river in Xorthbiuy in 1747-4S, the town voting twenty-two 
pounds in money, old tender, to be paid when the bridge should 
be completed. The last mentioned petition was granted in 173S. 

The act designated the memorialists as "living in the north 
or northeastern part" of the town. Hitherto it has been north 
or northwestern, indicating the movement of the settlement to 
the east side of the river. 

At this session of the General i\ssembly, October, 173S, the 
society of Westbury, now Watertown, was constituted. Already, 
in 1 686, at the May session of the General Court, Waterbury 
had been invested with town privileges and given its present 
name. 

Encouraged by their past successes, and influenced doubtless 
by the example of Westbury Society, the northern people the 
next year (1739) again moved on the General Assembl}', this 
time to be constituted an independent ecclesiastical society, with 
the rights and privileges of the same. The town, evidently tired 
of resisting those so determined to be an independent community, 
makes no opposition to the application, and it is granted. 
A committee of the General Assembly was appointed, heard 
the parties and decided on the bounds, and on their report to 
the General Assembly the following act of incorporation was 
passed : 

" Whereas, upon the memorial of the northern inhabitants 
of the town of Waterbury, in New Haven County, representing 
to this assembly their great distance from the publick worship in 
said Waterbury, and praying to become a distinct parish, and for 
a committee to fix their parochial ' ounds, the Assembly did 
appoint Messrs. Thomas Miles, Stephen Hotchkiss, and Joseph 
Thompson to be a committee to view the circumstances of said 
memorialists, to ascertain their parochial bounds, and to make 
their report in the premises to this Assembly ; and whereas the 
said committee hath now reported to this Assembly that they 
having viewed and dulv inquired into the circiunstances of the 
said inhabitants, do find them sufficient to bear parish charges 



28 



iiisroKV i)F PLVMOi rn. 







I J 



Tmvn BuilJiiif 

Pl\ IlKlUtll 

Center. 



Tciwn Hall, 
Terrvville 





Interior of 
Town Hall. 



EARLY SETTLERS OF PLYMOUTH. 



29 



and become a distinct parish, or society, with the following 
limits, viz. : Beginning at the northwest of the First Society in 
said Waterbury and the northeasterly corner of Westbury Society 
at two white oak trees known by the name of Two Brothers, 
then running southeasterly by the West Branch until it conies 
into the river ; then by the river until it comes where Spruce 
Brook emptyeth itself into the river a little below Upson's Island. 
Then from the mouth of said brook a straight line to the i'alls oi" 
Hancock's Brook, and from thence a straight line to the south 
side of Mr. Noyes' farm, lying partly on a hill by the name of 
Grassy Hill ; and from thence a due east line to Farmington 
line ; then north by said Farmington line to Harwinton bounds ; 
then by Harwinton bounds and Litchfield bounds to bounds hrst 
mentioned ; bounding, south on said Wateibury First Society ; 
east on Farmington bounds ;. north, part on Harwinton and part 
on Litchfield liounds ; and west on said Westbury vSociety ; as by 
their report on file dated October 25, 1739. 

" Resolved by this Assembly that the said memorialists 
within the limits above specified and described be and become a 
distinct society, or parish, and that they shall have and be 
invested with all the powers, privileges wherewith other parishes 
within this colony are endowed, and shall be known and called 
by the Parish of Northbury. 

" October session, 1739. 

Geo. Wyllvs, Sec." 

And so, after four applications to the town, and five to the 
General Assembly, the new community at last gained its end, 
and Northbury went on the roll of the ecclesiastical societies of 
Connecticut. 

The society was thus organized but it did not exist yet. 
The General Assembly had built the ship but left it on the 
stocks. Those who were to sail in it alone could launch it. 
This they proceeded to do. In accordance with the law for 
parish action, three of the inhabitants, viz., John Sutlift', Ebene- 
zer Richason, and Barnabas Ford, made application to Thomas 
Clark, one of the justices of Waterbury, who issued his warning 
to those who lived within the specified bounds. In response the 
inhabitants met on the day designated and organized the society 
by the choice of John Sutlift', moderator, Barnabas Ford, clerk, 
and Moses Blakeslee, John Sutlifi", and Ebenezer Richason, 
society committee. The place where they met, designated in 
the warning as " the house they meet in," was a building which 
several of the inhabitants had erected the year before by subscrip- 
tion for common public uses, and which they jointly owned as 
"proprietors." It stood on a knoll, since leveled, about in the 
center of the park in Thomaston. The land on which it stood 
was given by Rev. Mr. Southmavd and deeded to John Sutlifi^, 
Ebenezer Richason, lohn How, Thomas Blakeslee, Barnabas 
Ford, and the rest of the inhabitants living within two and one- 
half miles of Barnabas Ford's new dwelling house. It is de- 
scribed i.: the deed as " one acre near said Ford's dwelling house 



30 



HISTORY OF PLVMOU'IH. 




Rev. Luther Hart. 



/^ •■ ■ . ' 



"V (^ 




X 



Mrs Luther H.Mt 



EARLY SETTLERS OF PLYMOUTH. 



31 



in Wateibury, on which inhabitants have ah-eady het np a house 
for the saitl inhabitants lo meet in to cany on the public worship 
of God on the Sabbath." The building was a very plain one 
and was known in later years as the "■church house." 

The original record of the first meeting of the societv is in 
existence, with the other early records of the societv. it is in 
the handwriting of Barnabas Ford. 

The society thus organized, the next thing was to choose a 
minister, and Rev. Samuel Todd was selected. Accordingly on 
the 7th of May Mr. Todd was ordained fiist minister of the 
northerly society. He was born in North Haven, March 6, 
1716-17, the se\enth child and fifth son of Samuel and Mary 
(Tole) Todd, and grandson of Christopher and Grace Todd, 
early immigrants to the New Haven colony. The earlv records 
of the North Haven Church are impeifect, but Mr. Todd doubt- 
less united with it during the pastorate of Rev. Isaac Stiles, 




,;^ 



First Contrresiational Cluiicii 



father of President Stiles, of Yale. His fiimily were of a relig- 
ious character, as is proved by preserved relations or memorials 
of its members, in the days when each church member wrote out 
his or her confession of faith; that of his sister Susannah, aftei- 
wards wife of Caleb Humaston, recounts the wickedness of her 
rebellion against God, and how, when awakened to the sense of 
her sin, the counsels of Rev. Mr. Stiles and the death of an 
aunt were blessed to her conversion. 

Mr. Todd graduated at Yale, under President Williams, in 
1734, at the age of seventeen, six of the fourteen in his class 
becoming ministers. A latelv discovered document shows that 
he received and rejected a call to another church before he was 
ordained at Northbury, May 7, 1740. Eight months before he 
had married Mercv, daughter of Peter Evans, of Northfield, near 
New Haven, and he brought her on a pillion behind him, or on 
another horse, into this wilderness, where there was a small. 



32 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Re\. 1. P. Warren. 




kt\. Cpliraim I,\man. 



EARLY SETTLERS OF PLYMOUTH. 33 

feeble, scattered, but devoted flock, situated somevvliat similar to 
the first Pilgrims at Plymouth, Mass. There were only bridle- 
paths through the woods then, and the streams had to be forded, 
the first cart bridge across the Naugatuck, at Thomaston, not 
being built till after 1747. 

Mr. Todd's promised home was not begun on his arrival, 
and he set up his house on Town Hill, where the cellar hole is 
now seen in the lot near Jason Fenn's, and where three old apple 
trees lately stood of an orchard set out by him ; this was near his 
good deacon's, Moses Blakeslee, who had lately arrived from 
New Haven with his fourteen children. A spring flows near 
the old cellar hole, where tradition says Mr. I'odd's first child, 
little Alathea, was drowned; near the tombstone of her sister 
Lucy, who died June 9, 1752, is an unmarked grave which is 
doubtless that of little Alathea, said to be the first person buried 
there. After two or three years' delay, the society built Mr. 
Todd a house in Thomaston, which stood on the top of the hill 
where Mrs. Williams built later, on the old road running north, 
which turned otl from the river road at Mr. Grilley's corner. 
It is not known how long he lived there, but he moved over to 
Plymouth Hill when the church was there and the people lived 
here; he had moved belore 1746-47, for Barnabas Ford's will, 
dated January 27, 1746, disposes of twenty-three acres of Bear 
Hill which he had of Mr. Todd, and in tne deed of this green, 
December 3, 1747, it was described as butting east on Mr. Todd's 
land. His house was in the garden this side of Riley Ives' 
house, and is remembered by the old people as the Evans House, 
where Eli Terry, the father of clock-making, began housekeep- 
ing with one chair apiece for himself and wife, and one cup and 
saucer. Mr. Todd's second daughter was Mary, who married 
Obed Foot of this parish, and, on his death, Rev. Jonathan 
Leavitt, of Heath, Mass. Mr. Todd had eleven children, there 
being two Alatheas and two Lucys. 

The great revival under President Edwards roused the New 
England churches from the cold formalism that grew out of the 
union of the church and state and other causes, and Mr. Todd 
went to study it at Stockbridge, probably by the advice of Joseph 
Bellamy, settled two years before at Bethlehem, a great friend of 
Edwards, and then in the midst of a i^eligious revival, in which 
every man, woman, and child in the parish was under more or 
less religious concern. When Mr. Todd returned, established 
praver meetings, and labored with souls, manv of his congrega- 
tion rebelled against him, and abandoned his preaching. There 
was almost temporal trouble. Two years before the society was 
organized a building had been erected for public purposes, by sub- 
scription, west of the river, and owned bv subscribers, in which 
the society was allowed to meet for public worship. That was 
never the societv's meeting house, for they never owned it; it 
was built and owned by proprietors, and occupied by the society 
for a time by their consent. The societv's movement to build a 
meetino; house was not caused bv their beinsf voted out of this 



34 



lllSrORV OF PLYMOUTH. 




Rev. E. J. H.i 




Rev. R. C. LearneJ. 



EARLY SETTLERS OF PLVMOUTJI. 



35 



building; the society, instead, being voted out of it because it 
had resolved to build a meeting hou&e. 

The society had been oiganized November 20, 1739, and a 
minister installed May 7, 1740; not satistied with the west side 
house, the society voted, October 6, 1740, to get the legislature 
to set a stake for a meeting house, as it had none of its own. 
This was not because, as Bronson says, the churchmen had 
obtained a majority of the votes and took exclusive possession of 
the house of worsliip. A protest of the proprietors of that 
building to the legislatuie has been found in Mr. Satterlee's 
possession, in which they say that their obligations to Mr. Todd 
are as much as they can meet ; therefore they ask that the meet- 
ing house be not built ibr the present, but that their house be 
established as the place for public worship, which is sufficient 
for the present wants of the society, and is freely otlered for its 
use. The protest is dated October S, 1740, two days after the 
vote of the society to build, and is signed by William Ludding- 
ton, Jonathan Foot, John Sutliff, Sr. and Jr., Barnabas Ford, 
John How, Isaac Castle, Thomas and Jacob'^Blakeslee, Ebenezer 
Richason, Samuel Jacobs, Caleb Humaston, Phineas Royce, 
Daniel Curtis, Gideon x'Mlen, Jeremiah Peck, Sr. and Jr., Eben- 
ezer Elwell, and .Samuel Frost. The protest was never sent to 
the legislature, but the next May, John Sutliff, Barnabas Ford, 
and John How, on authority of the proprietors, sent one, saying 
that they were behind with Mr. Todd's settlement and salary, 
and praying that further charges respecting a meeting house be 
prevented at present. It is evident that the occupation of the 
west side house was merely temporary and provisional, the 
society chancing to be organized there, as there was no other 
public building in the parish limits; it was not regarded as the 
meeting house, nor did they intend to remain in it permanently. 
It was not the society of Wooster Swamp, but of Northbury, 
which mainly lay east of the river, where it proceeded to build 
as soon as it was in fair working order. 

The west side settlers naturally objected to the building, 
because they saw it would be done east of the river, and they 
tried to persuade the society to remain in their school house. 
But when they saw that the society was determined to build on 
the east side, a majority (not of the society, for that would have 
controlled it and defeated the project of building on the east side) 
of the proprietors of the west side house (eleven of the nineteen) 
voted the society out of doors till it should have completed its 
own house ; then this majority of the proprietors, knowing that 
the legislature would not organize an opposition Congregational 
church west of the river, formed an Episcopal society. 

The minoritv of the proprietors of the west building, though 
opposed to building a meeting house east of the river, yet 
remained loyal to the societv, and were its pillars — Jeremiah 
Peck, first deacon. John Sutlifi', Sr. and Jr. (the junior being 
sixth deacon), Caleb Humaston, and Phineas Rovce. The Con- 
gregational societv had its first iiome on the hill, and there it has 
always been, nor would an Episcopal society have been formed 



36 



llISrOKY OF PI.VMOU'I II. 




Rev H. E. CiHilt 



-'JS--^ ' f 




Rev. E. B Hillard, 



KARI.V SEITI.KUS OF I'l.ViMOL Til. 37 

in Thomaston then if the church had been built here. The con- 
flict was primarily of locality and only secondarily of ecclesi- 
astical order. The secession weakened the society, leaving half 
the number to do the work, to build Mr. Todd's house and a 
meeting house ; there were only a handful of members left, and 
they were poor, just building their own houses and clearing 
their farms. But they did not break down under their heavy 
burden, and established the society on firm foundations. 

Rev. Mr. Todd's house was built slowly, and his first year 
he gave in twenty pounds of his salary towards it ; but it was 
finished by December, 174-2, for then the society, turned out of 
the school house in the irlollow, voted to meet there part of the 
year, he having, meanwhile, lieen living on Town Hill. The 
disruption of the society hindered it in building a meeting house, 
and put an end to society meetings and to its organization. But 
in Mav, 174I1 in response to an appeal of John Bronson, Moses 
and Thomas Blakeslee, the legislature directed Benjamin Hall 
and Captain John Riggs, of Derby, to go to Northbury, warn a 
society meetmg, and see that it chose proper oflicers. They 
were also to direct them where and how long to meet for Sabbath 
worship, and to see where and when it was best to build a meet- 
ing house. 

At the meeting they warned for June 10, 1741, Joseph 
Clark was chosen clerk, Daniel Curtiss collector of the minister's 
rate, and Deacon Moses Blakeslee, Lieutenant John Bronson, 
and Sergeant John Warner prudential committee to fix a place 
to build a meeting house, and, meanwhile, they were directed to 
meet in the west school house ten months, and in Joi-eph Clark's 
house in January and February, when it was difficult for those 
this side to cross the river. The society applied to the legisla- 
ture for a committee as directed, and notwithstanding the protest 
of those on the west side. Captain John Rogers and John Fowler 
were sent to select the meeting house site at the society's ex])ense, 
and set a stake twenty rods west of One Pine Swamp, and thirty 
rods south of the road running east from the river. 

The society voted to build there December 3, 1744, having 
before this been turned out of the west side school house, and 
meeting in the houses of Joseph Clark, Sr. and Jr., and at 
Mr. Todd's seven months, including winter, on the east side, and 
five months on the west. January 9, 1745, it was voted to ask 
the legislature for a tax on the land to help build a meeting 
house, and at a meeting held the next September, it was asked 
to conform the middle stake which the court's committee had set 
as its site ; it was then requested that the land tax be not imposed 
on members of the Church of England; Barnabas Ford, Thomas 
and David Blakeslee having protested against the taxation of 
their land. 

John Warner, the society's agent in this matter, represents 
in his memorial that about one-third of the society have become 
Episcopalians, and at his request the middle stake was made the 
site for the church. The next December, Deacon Moses 
Blakeslee was appointed to fix the site of the troublesome build- 



38 



msroKV op^ I'LVMOurii. 




Rev. J. S. Zt 




x^^ 
4-^*^ 



.Jiijy 



^\ 



-4 




Rev. C. H. Sniilli. 



EARLY .SEl'ILEKS OK PLYMOUTH. 39 

ing ; at this time they met this side uf the river the whole year, 
at Caleb Weed's in March and April, and at Joseph Clark's the 
rest of the time, the latter being voted twelve shillings in winter 
and ten shillings in warmer weather. 

The church was not begun in October, 1746, for then it was 
voted to get and draw timbers for it. December of that year it 
was voted to meet each side of the 1 iver half the time, in the 
houses of Phineas Royce and Caleb Weed. vSeptember 22, 1747, 
it was voted to allow the people to budd Sabbath day houses on 
the green, outside a line drawn by the society's committee; it 
was also voted to cut and clear the brush from the green. This 
green was given the society for a place of parade, a burying 
ground, and a place to build a church on by the town of Water- 
bury, which bought eight rods south of the meeting house stake, 
eighteen rods north, and sixteen rods west of it, of John Brins- 
made, of Milford ; he presented an acre besides, and others gave 
four-tenths of an acre, making in all four acres, which was 
deeded to the society, through Caleb Humaston, December 3, 
1747, and was described as butting west on Brinsmade's land, 
north on Humaston's, east on Mr. Todd's and south on the high- 
way, showing that the road ran then where it does at the present 
time. 

In 182s arbitrators decided that the green belonged to the 
society, and the town's only right, acquired by usage, was to 
bury in the burying ground. The green was then an alder 
swamp, and when the second church was built, it w^as so wet 
that some wanted the church at the head of the street, that proud 
Madam Ballany and Mrs. Wright might occasionally wet their 
feet going to meeting, as more common people had been com- 
pelled to do. 

The Northbury society grew through much tribulation. 
First, it petitioned the tow^n seven times — in October, i734' ^^P" 
tember 29, and October 26, 1736, and April iS, 1737, May and 
October, 173S, and October, 1739. Then it was seven years 
after the society was organized before the society began to build, 
and twenty-two years after that before its meeting house was 
done. Re"^search has brought to light in B. B. Satterlee's posses- 
sion the original constitution in Mr. Todd's handwriting. After 
a pastorate of twelve years in Adams, Mass., and serving as 
chaplain in the revolution, Mr. Todd died in Oxford, N. H., 
June 10, 1789, aged seventy years. 

Rev. Andrew Storrs was ordained and installed November 
27, 1765, and died in office March 2, 17S5, after a pastorate of 
nearly twenty years. He built the house where Mr. Kelsey has 
lately lived, putting it up in 1766. He set out the button-balls 
and "elms that were so noticeable there. Mr. Storrs died (and 
now lies in the center yard) two years after peace had been 
declared with Great Britain. 

Five years before, 17S0. Westburv and Northbury had been 
incorporated as a new town, named Watertown, and transierred 
to Litchfield countv. These parishes were then the richest part 
of Waterburv, the"grand lists of the several societies standing in 



40 



HISIOKV OF I'l.VMOUTH. 



1749, VVaterbuiy first, £i3,iSi, Westbury, £1 1,257, Northbury, 
£10,070. One" of the richest men in this society in the early 
times was Jeremiah Peck, first deacon, whose property inven- 
toried at £3,702 when he died in 1752. Earlier than that Barna- 
bas Ford, the great land holder, was one of the wealthy men. 
He owned all Thomaston when it was Fordton, his rule seeming 
to have been to buy all land joining his ; he bought all of 
Mr. Todd's land in the Hollow before 1746, as appears l)y his 
will. 

Simon Waterman, the third Congregational pastor, was 
born in Norwich, January 17, 1737, to a family that originally 
came from Norwich in England. He was settled here August 
29, 17S7, the year the adoption of the federal constitution opened 
a new era of consolidated national life. He brought Eunice, his 
wife, to whom her father, Benjamin Hall, a magistrate, had 
married him July 26, 1764, and six children, two having died in 
Wallingford. Mr. Waterman lived in the Warner house on 
South street, next to Mrs. Smith's, and set out the great elms 
now towering before it. His home life was pleasant, with happy 
gatherings of young folks, with courting in the parlor as the 
vears went on. Not one of that family is now alive. He was 
dismissed in 1809, and resided here till his death in 1S13, three 
vears after Mr. Hart came here. 

The second meeting house was built during Mr. Waterman's 
ministrv, and was a source of trouble. The vote for a survey to 
find the middle of the town passed March 3, 1783, during the 
last of Mr. Storrs' ministry, and it was found to be on Town 
Hill, wheie the stake for the meeting house was stuck in front of 
Nathan Beach's house. Mr. vStorrs' sickness and death inter- 
fered with building then, but when Mr. Waterman was settled, 
the enterprise was renewed, though there was trouble about the 
site at first. January 11, 1790, it was finally voted to build the 
meeting house on a rock a little southeast from the house where 
Samuel Lewis then lived, at the head of the old road leading 
from the old meeting house eastward. The 23d of the next 
December it was voted to build a steeple, and the 2 2d of October, 
1792. it was voted to dispose of the old house; on the 2d of the 
following December liberty was granted to erect horse sheds. 
December 7, 1S06, a committee was appointed to confer with 
Mr. Waterman regarding his uneasiness, with satisfactory results, 
for no further trouble was had until March 16, 1807, wlien 
another committee saw him in reference to a communication of 
his to the societv. September 25, 1809, it was finally voted to 
dismiss Mr. Waterman, and he was dismissed by a council on 
the 14th of November, he to retain the whole salary for that vear, 
and tlie society to pav him $750 in three annual installments. 

Mr. Waterman died after a short illness, while on a visit to 
a bachelor son in New York. His remains were brought to 
Plvmouth, where his wife had died on the previous March, a 
son, Simon, having also died on the 7th of the previous 
September. 

Rev. Lutlicr Hart was called next. He was a native of 



EAKI.V SEITLKKS Ol- PLYMOUTH. 4I 

■Goshen, born July 27, 1783. He was graduated at Yale in 1S07, 
of which institution he was afterwards a Fellow. Was ordained 
pastor of this church September ^, iSio, and died in the midst 
of the labors of a revival April 2^, 1834, in the tifty-first year of 
his age and twenty-fourth of his ministr\ . 

Rev. Ephraim Lyman was ortlained October 28, 1S35. ^^ 
was born in Goshen, June 3, 18 10, and graduated from Yale in 
1832, and at Yale Theological Seminary in 1835. He was dis- 
missed June 8, 185 1, having nearly completed the sixteenth year 
of his ministry. Subsequently he located in Washington, Conn. 

Rev. Israel Perkins Warren, the next pastor, was born in 
Bethany, April 8, 1814; graduated from Yale Theological Sem- 
inary in 1 841, and settled in Plymouth October, 1851. He was 
followed bv Rev. Erskine J Hawes, of Hartford, who became 
pastor January 19, iS^8, and died July 8, i860, being killed by 
his horse. 

Rev. Robeit C. Learned, of Xew London, came next, being- 
installed September 11, 1861, and dismissed July 15, 1S65. 
Rev. Henrv E. Cooley was settled August 7, 1866, and dismissed 
April I, 1869. 

Rev. Elias Brewster Hillaid became the next pastor. He 
was settled November 30, 1869, and dismissed July 18, 1889. 
Mr. Hillard died March i, 189^, at Farmington, and was buried 
in Plymouth. The following sketch was written by Rev. J. H. 
Twichell of Hartford : 

••'Mr. Hillard was a native of this State, having been born 
in Prej^ton September 6, 182^. He was of the old New England 
stock, a lineal descendant in the eighth generation of Elder 
Brewster of Plymouth Colony. His father, Moses Hillard, was 
a sea captain, an adventurous, energetic man of no small fame in 
his day. He was master of the ship that brought to America 
the first news of the burning of Moscow. 

" It is an interesting fact, though it has never been made 
public, that when Napoleon, after his overthrow at Waterloo, 
thought of flving to this coimtry, friends of his sought and were 
pledged the aid of Captain Hillard, then in France, in carrying 
out the design. It was fully arranged between him and them 
that the emperor should be concealed in a water cask on his 
vessel's deck and so escape through the English fleet. But lor 
some reason he was not conveyed on boaid as had been agreed 
and the plan failed. 

"The bold self-reliant temper of the father reappeared in 
marked degree in the son and contributed much to his efficiency 
in life. 

"Mr. Hillard was prepared for college at the old Bacon 
Academv in Colchester. He graduated at Yale in the class of 
1848. Among his classmates were Judge Nathaniel Shipman 
and the Hon. David wS. Calhoun, of Hartford, the late Dwight 
Foster, of the supreme bench of Massachusetts, Dr. Henry Blod- 
get, the eminent missionarv to China, Professor Wilcox of tiie 
Chicago Theological Seminarv and the lamented Theodore 
Winthrop, who fell at Big Bethel. After his graduation he was 



43 



HISrOKV OF PI.YMOUTH. 



for two years principal of Lewis Academy in Southington, 
where the wiiter of this notice was his pupil and experienced, as 
did all the pupils (one of whom afterward became his wife), the 
charm and encouragement of his geni^d, generous and friendly 
spirit. 

*■• Completing his theological studies at the Yale and Andover 
vSeminaries, Mr. Hillard ortered himself for the home missionary 
service and fiom the Home Missionary Society received appoint- 
ment to California, at that time a new and distant fiekl. But the 
society, falling just then into straitened financial circumstances, 
was unable to send him, and he became pastor of the Congrega- 
tional church in Hadlyme, wheie he labored from 1855 to 1S60. 
His other pastorates were successively at Kensington Irom 1S60 
to 1S67, at South Glastonbury from 1S67 to 1S69, at Plymouth 
from 1869 to 1889, and at Conway, Mass., from 1889 to 1893. 
Thirtv-eight vears in all he exercised the ministry of the gospel, 
and continually with his whole heart, with burning zeal and the 
enlistment of every faculty of his being. When at last he laid 
down his woik, he was worn out. 

"His wife, who was Miss Julia Whittlesey, of Cleveland, 
O., survives him, with seven of their nine children, as follows: 
Mrs. Andrew McLeish, of Chicago, Frederick W., of Staten 
Island. Mrs. J. L. Fenn, of Hartford, Mary R., of St. Margaret's 
School, AVaterbury, Helen, Fanny and John. 

" Mr. Hillard was a man of a high order of ability, intel- 
lectually alive and alert, and in his views of the liberal progres- 
sive school. Grounded and settled in the essentials of Christian 
faith, he was never in the least afraid of new ways of thinking 
on the old truths. He was characteristically fervid in tempera- 
ment, and was wont to champion with boundless enthusiasm 
whatever cause he felt to be for the public welfare and the 
advance of Christ's kingdom. From the beginning of his minis- 
try, but notably in the twenty years of his Plymouth pastorate, 
he was a recognized foremost leader in the enterprise of temper- 
ance reform. ' With charitv for all, with malice toward none,' 
he fought a good soldier's fight against all forms of evil that he 
saw working ill to his neighbor. He loved righteousness and 
he hated initjuitv. He was the soul of Christian coinage ; the 
soul, also, of Christian kindness and good will. Few ministers 
and few citizens of his generation are more worthy of honor, 
gratitude and remembrance than I>lias Brewster Hillard. May 
his rest be sweet." 

Mr. Hillard had promised in the early winter, if his health 
permitted, to prepare additional history of Plymouth for these 
pages, but he was unable to do so, much to the author's regret. 

John vSheriden Zelie followed Mr. Hillard. He became 
pastor July 22, 1890, and was dismissed July, 1894. 

The present pastor is Rev. Charles H. Smith, of Pomfret. 
He was born in Abington, Conn , April 11, 1861. His parents 
were the Rev. Henry Bagg Smith and vSarah Hazen, daughter of 
the Rev. Reuben Hazen. Mr. Smith was fitted for college in 
the Amherst Higli School and studied theology in the Hartford 



HAKLV SETILEHS OF PLYMOUTH. 43 

Theological Seminar}', and during the last two \ ears of his sem- 
inary studies lie was located at Burlington, Conn. His father 
died in iSSz and he tlien supplied the pulpit \acated bv him at 
Shutesbury, Mass. He was called to Reichertown, Mass., in 
1887, where he remained until he received a call from Hartford 
in 1891. He was called to Plymouth Decembei' 28, 189^], and 
installed the 30th of the following month. He is married and 
has two children. 



44 



HISTORY OK l•I.^ Moiirn. 




Rev. Dr. Burlians. 




Rev Win. Watson. 



CHAPTER III. 



CHURCH HISTORY 



St. Peter's Episcopal Parish Established in 1740— Its Ministers and Other Inter- 
esting Facts— St. Matthew's Church, Now Closed - Terryville Congregational 
Society, with Sketches of Pastors— Roman Catholic Mission— The Defunct 
Second Advent Chapel. 

ST. PETER'S Episcopal parish was Hrst organized liy eleven 
families branching off from Rev. Mr. Todd's congregation of 
eighteen families in the year 1740. Their first minister, Rev. 
Theophilns Morris, was sent here by the English Church for 
propagating the gospel in foreign paits. He officiated in the 
parishes of Waterburv. West Haven and Derby in 174-1 'nit 




St. Peter's Episcopal Church. 

returned to England in 1743. The next minister sent was Rev. 
James Lvon, wiio made Derby his home but pieached in these 
parishes until 1S46, when he went to Long Island. The 
parishes in America then were under the jurisdiction of the 
bishop oi" London and depended greatly upon the aid of the 
Englisli. It was three years after the dejiarture of Mr. Lyon 
before Rev. Richard Mansfield returned from England, where he 



46 



iiisionv ov I'l.vMorrii. 



r 




Rev. Ua\ id Lunsden. 




Re\ . b. Eastuo..j. 



CHUKCH HISTORY. 47 

had gone for orders, he being the Hrst native of this country who 
had supplied the pulpits here. Mi. AlansHeld remained from 
1749 until 17^9^ when his successor was Rev. James Scovill, 
who resided in Waterbury and was a native of that town. 
Mr. Scovill was also a missionary and laboretl here faithfully 
from 1759 until 1771, when he was succeeded by Rev. James 
Nichols. Mr. Scovill continued to preach in the parishes of 
Waterbury and VVestbury (now VVatertown). Mr. Nichols 
remained until the Revolutionary troubles began in 1775, when 
he went to Litchfield to leside. 

From 177s until the autumn of 17S4 the parish was without 
a minister, owing to the war between this countrv and England. 
In October, i 7S4, the Rev. Chauncey Prindle was called and it 
was voted and agreed that he should receive as salai'y for preach- 
ing half of the time, the sum of thirty-seven pounds and ten 
shillings, and it was further agreed that he shoidd receive half of 
the above amount in beef, pork, butter, tallow, sheep's wool, 
flax, or any sort of grain at the market price at W'atertown. 
During the first four vears of his stav the church was weakened 
by the withdrawal from the parish of two considerable detach- 
ments, one of which was designed to form Northfield parish on 
the west, and the other St. Matthew's on the east. This separa- 
tion w\as not caused by any dislike to eirher Mr. Prindle or the 
members of the society, but a desire to erect parishes nearer 
their own homes. The next difficulty which Mr. Prindle had to 
pass through was the erection of the edifice which now stands 
on Plymouth Hill Green, and which was ready for use in the 
autumn of 1796, in which the rector preached the first sermon 
November 24, 1796. Mr. Prindle resigned in 1806 to give 
opportunitv for its becoming united in a cure w^ith St. Matthew's. 

Rev. Nathan Burgess officiated the greater part of 1S07. 
In iSoS, the onlv service which was held was conducted by a 
candidate for orders, afterwards Rev. Joseph Davis Welton, who 
was engaged as a lav-leader. In 1S09 the services of a settled 
minister were secured again, at which time Rev. Roger Seaile 
took charge. According to agreement, Mr. Searle was to 
preach here two-thirds of the time and at St. Matthew's one- 
third, which continued until 1S13 About tliis time removals 
began to take place from this parish to Ohio, the mania becom- 
ing so great for emigration as to threaten the church with serious 
injury. In the vear 18 17, Mr. Searle, thinking that he might 
find a wider field in Ohio, resigned and took up his duties in the 
west. In 1S18 Rev. Rodnev Rossiter became rector. It 
was (lui ing his stav that a bell was procured for the chinch in 
1823. and a Sunday-school encouraged in 182S. Mr. Rossiter 
resigned at Easter, 1829. 

For two and a half vears after this the parish was without 
a rector, but during this period Rev. R. W. Harris, Rev. Joseph 
T. Clark, Rev. Gurdon S. Coit. Rev. Norman Pinney and Rev. 
Allan C. Morgan, officiated here about six months each. Either 
one the parish would have retained, luit circumstances did not 
permit it. In the summer of 1831 the basement of the church 



48 



HlSroHV OF PLVMOUIII. 




Rt\-. Lmerson Jessup 




Uf\. J. M. Bales. 



CHURCH HISTORY 



49 



was built, which greatly added to its convenience. On the 7th 
of the following November Rev. Dr. Burhans took charge, 
though it was not till the succeeding Easter that he became the 
rector Now for the first time the parish enjoyed the services of 
a settled minister for the whole of the time, and during his 
ministry it was deemed best to enlarge the church, which was 
done by bringing the body of the building out flush with the 
front of the steeple. Dr. Burhans' resignation is dated April 
4, 1836. _ _ 

During tiie winter of 1S37 Rev. Geo. Waters supplied the 
desk and pulpit. Rev. Wm. Watson of Bethlehem and Northtield 
was called in May, 1S37. -^'^ organ costing $700 was added to 
the improvement of the interior of the church in March, 1S41. 
After thirteen years' service Mr. Watson resigned on August 24, 
iS^o. In 1S53 Rev. S. D. Denison was called and continued 




Interior VIl'W, Si. Peter's Epi 



until 1S54, when Rev. A. B. Goodrich became rector, followed 
in March, iS^6, by Rev. S. H. Miller, who served until the fall 
of 1S57, when for a short time Rev. Wm. Bates was engaged. 
From 1850 until i860 the parish was without a minister the 
greater part of the time. Then Dr. Berry was called and 
remained until May 4, 1861. Rev. David F. Lunsden followed 
from April, 1862, until April, 1S63. Rev. B. Eastwood was 
rector one year. Rev. Porter Thomas served from August, 
1S69, until October 17, 1872, followed by Rev. Emerson Jessup, 
and Rev. L. M. Darman, until June i, 1874; by Rev. S. B. 
Dufl^eld until 1876; Rev. J. M. Bates until 1877; Rev. N. T. 
Scudder until Easter, 1879, when the Rev. John D. Gilliland 
was called and served until 1888. Rev. W. E. Hooker became 
the rector of the church in 1S88. During Mr. Hooker's stay the 
church was completelv remodeled inside, the organ moved and 
new furnaces put in, all through the kindness of Mrs. J. M. Ton- 



50 



IllsrOKV op- PLVMOi:i'll, 




Rfv. N. T. ScudJt 




Rev W. E. HooUe 



CHURCH HISTORY. 51 

cey, and the help of Mrs. Prosper Warner. Their present pas- 
tor, Dr. James Ganimack, was called in 1892. He was born in 
Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, April 23, 1S37, ^"<^^ educated 
at Turriff Parish vSchool, Marischal College and University, 
Aberdeen, from which University he received M. A., ni 18^7, 
and LL. D., in 18S7. He also attended the Theological College, 
Glenalmond, Perthshire, in 1857-59, '^'"'^" under Archdeacon 
Hannah, of Brighton, and Canon Bright, of Oxford. He was 
ordained deacon in 1859, and priest in 1861. 

ST. Matthew's episcopal parish. 

In 1790, when the new meetinghouse was built at Plymouth 
Hollow, some of the members of the parish, displeased because 
it was not built on Town Hill, seceded and helped to build 
St. Matthew's Church, in East Plymouth. Being situated in 
that part of Plymouth contiguous to the towns of Bristol, Har- 
winton, and Burlington, each of those places contributed to the 
birth and maintenance of St. Matthew's parish and church. 
The first record of the parish found, is of a society's meeting of 
the Second Episcopal Church in Northbury, holden at the house 
of Ensign Ozias Tyler in said Northbury, the 4th day of April, 
1 79 1, at which Capt. Nathaniel Jones was chosen moderator, 
and Ensign Ozias Tyler clerk ; and it was voted that the 
society's committee be desired to provide a place for public 
worship for the present year. A meeting was also held on the 
first day of December of the same year (1791) at the same place, 
at which Captain Thomas Hungerford was chosen moderator. 
It was voted "to build a church, forty-two feet in length and 
thirty-two feet in width," and a committee was chosen, consist- 
ing of Isaac W. Shelton, Samuel Hawley, Ozias Tyler and 
vStephen Graves, "to build the church, and set the stake where 
the church shall stand," also voted to "arch the lower tier of 
windows and the upper tier square." 

When first erected the building stood in front of its present 
location with its entrance at the south end, but in 1842, or soon 
after, was turned around and placed where it now is. The old 
square pews were removed about 1830. At a meeting held 
June 2, 1792, at the dwelling house of Ensign Robert Jearom, 
Captain Thomas Jearom, moderator, it was voted "to give 
David Butler a call for three-quarters of the time, to be our min- 
ister; also to give him £55, and his firewood yearly, three- 
quarters of the time ; to be paid, two-thirds in farmer's produce 
and one-third in cash." 

The church was built in 1792, but was unfinished inside, 
for at a meeting held March 5, 1793, Isaac W. Shelton and 
Stephen Graves were appointed a committee to " lay out the 
money, and procwre somebody to do oft' the inside of the church." 
And again, at a meeting held at the church December 31, 1793, 
the following committee was appointed to " examine and find the 
most convenient ^vav of doing oft' the church and make report at 
the next meeting:" Noah Andrews, Ira Dodge, Isaac W. Shelton, 



52 



HISTORY OF PLVMOUril. 




Rev James Gammack 




St Peter's Episcopal Cluircli Parsonage. 



CHLiRcii lIls^Ol^^•. 



53 



Calvin Woodin, ami Timothy Sperry ; at which meeting held 
Jannary 13, 1794, it was voted to "•finish the church in the 
following manner : to make a broad alley through the center of 
the lower floor, and finish the sides with pews in the most con- 
venient manner, also to finish the gallery by making two rows 
of seats round the whole square, and a row of pews across the 
south end." It was voted that the church be called St. 
Matthew's at a meeting held October 19, 1795. On November 
10, 1794, it was voted to adopt the constitution of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church of Connecticut, and Caleb Matthews, the 
parish clerk, was Instructed to attend the convention at Cheshire 
and request the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury to consecrate the new 
■church. 

Among the early moderators of the parish meetings we find 
the names of Noah Welton, occurring twenty-three times; 
Stephen Graves, twelve ; Captain Thomas Hungerford and 




St Mattht 



ipal Cluirch, East Plymouth 



Ambrose Ward, nine each ; and later, Lyman Preston, twelve 
times; also frequently, Captain Nathaniel Jones,^ Captain 
Thomas Jearom, Ensign Ozias Tyler, Lieutenant David Marks, 
and Isaac Atwater. 

One of the clergymen who preached at St. Matthew's was 
Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, who was afterwards Bishop of 
New England except Connecticut. He was here when the 
church was consecrated by Bishop Samuel Jarvis, second Bishop 
of Connecticut, in 1795. He lived in the house belonging to 
Cyrus Gaylord, grandfather of the present Cyrus Gaylord, who 
now owns the place. Isaac Atwater came from Wallingford that 
same year, and lived in the old Joseph Gaylord place, now occu- 
pied by Henry Loomis. The house was then a tavern and 
Mr. Atwater kept it for several years ; it was the only stopping 
place between Bristol and Harwinton, and letters and news- 
papers were brought by the horseback travelers passing by, also 
left in the bar roon/for others to take who were passmg. 



54 



HISroRV OK PLYMOUTH. 



Congregational CIuu'lIi, Terr\'ville. 




Interior, Terryville Congregational Church. 



CHURCH inSlORV. 



55 



Mr. Atwater removed from Wallingtorcl l"i urn a wish to change tlie 
scene, after losing four children. Two were then living; one a 
boy often, James Dana, who afterwards married Betsy Benham, 
and died soon afterwards, was buried with Masonic honors, and 
a gravestone, with Masonic emblems engraved on it, was put up 
and is still standing. The other child, a small girl, Lucy, always 
lived in this vicinity until she was ninety-eight, dying in 1S93, one 
hundred and one years old, after her oldest sister was buried in 
Wallingford in 1791. Mr. Atwater moved from East Church to 
Chippen's Hill, in 1S14 or so, where he lived until almost 1S25, 
when he moved to a house just east of the town line by the old 
marsh pond, where his descendants now live. Mr. Atwater was 
a Revolutionary soldier for a time and also had a brother who 
died in that war. He was a man of much genius, was fond of 
writing, sermons and poetry of his being now in the possession 
of his grandchildren. His youngest daughter married Enos 
Rice or Royce, of Hartford at that time, but afterwards living on 
the old Atwater place. 

The Rice family were verv prominent in St. Matthew's 
parish ; Jeremiah Rice often read the service. He married an 
aunt of Mrs. Cyrus VV. Field, of New York, who was his own 
cousin. She lived in Bristol. 

The parish of St. Matthew^'s furnished three clergymen. 
The first is the Rev. Collis J. Potter, of Stratford ; second. Rev. 
X. A. Welton, of Pequotonnock, Conn., and the Rev. Alfred 
L. Royce, U. S. N., now chaplain of the Naval Academy at 
Annapolis, Md. He is the son of Enos Royce and the grandson 
of Isaac Atwater. 

In 1S71 or '73, the church was remodeled, a chancel 
arranged, the old towering pulpit taken down, and doors taken 
oti' the small pews, also a ceiling made to reach across from one 
gallery to another. There is no chimney, and when a stove was 
put in the people thought that no one could speak in such close 
atmosphere. It used to be a large and full congregation, but has 
dwindled down to half a dozen old decrepit ladies, and service 
is seldom performed there. 

The first use of the cemetery at East Pl\ mouth for binial 
purposes seems to have been coeval with the formation of the 
parish and the building of the church, for we find a grave digger 
appointed in 1793 and the oldest tombstone bears date i795- -^^ 
the present time it is impossible to give a list of the interments, 
as of the large number of early unmarked graves scarcely a 
trace remains. However, the number cannot be less than 500, 
as about 300 monumental stones have been erected. No record 
remains of interments for the fir>t half century, excepting those 
shown upon the tombstones, until Junius Preston was appointed 
sexton in 1S46, which office he continued to fill lor forty-one years. 

TERHVVILI.E CONGREG ATIONAI, CHUI?CJr. 

Nearlv a century after the organization of the first parish in 
Plymouth, forty-nuie persons came ofi' by letters of dismissal. 



56 



HISrOKV OF PJ.'S MOL'l M. 




Rrv. Nathaniel KiLluiiasoii. 



'•% 


^^^.f 


■V '*" V 


'■>^- 


^ 


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••». 


)l 


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Re%-. Merrill Rich;:rdsnii 



C11LM5CH lusrom' 



57 



ilated November 20 and December 31, 1S37 ; '"i*K with the 
exception of four of them, who were absent on the occasion, 
were organized as the Congregational Church of Terryville, 
January 2, 183S. The articles of faith and covenant adopted 
were those of the consociated churches of the southern district of 
Litchfield count}'. The four persons absent at the organization 
were soon received ; and on March 2, eighteen others joined 
from the church at Plymouth. Charles H. Porter, then a 
junior in Yale College, spent the month of January in the place, 
and many persons were hopefully converted. Two young ministers, 
viz., C. S. Sherman and David Dobie, followed up the labors of 
Mr. Porter, and in the six months between the organization of 
the church and the settlement of the first pastor, thirtv-nine per- 
sons were added to the membership. 

^^^August 8, 183S, was a great day with this people. In the 
forenoon the completed house of worship was dedicated, and in 
the afternoon tliree voung men were ordained to the gospel 




TfiiAville Ciiiit;iey:ati(inal Cluucli 



ministry, one of whom, Nathaniel Richardson, was installed 
(first) pastor of this church. The preacher upon this occasion 
was Rev. Dr. Noah Porter of Farmington. The ministry of 
Mr. Richardson extended to July 2, 1840. 

Rev. Merrill Richardson was the second pastor. He was 
installed (3ctober 27, 1S41. He was born in Holden, Mass., in 
j8i I— brought up on a farm a healthy, sturdy boy, until he was 
sixteen. His father then gave him his time and two hundred 
dollars (which was all the help he received for his education) , 
and he went to Leicester Academy, Worcester county, Mass., to 
fit for college. He always spoke of his mother with the greatest 
love and reverence, and said it was owing to her influence that 
he decided to become a minister of the gospel. He graduated at 
Middlebury College, Vt., taught the academy there two years, 
and then went to New Haven to study theology under Dr. Taylor, 
whose instructions he gratefully prized. He was deeply inter- 



mSTOKV OK IT.WMOUTH. 




Rev. Edwin R. Dimock. 




Rev. Franklin A. Spencer. 



CHURCH HISIORY. 59 

ested in everything that pertained to the well being of his parish, 
and loved study and pastoral work. He did not believe religion 
to be a thing of melancholy and gloom, but rather that the 
Christian ought to be the happiest and most cheerful of persons. 
He was interested in the schools of the town, and introduced 
many new methods of teaching. The Terryville Institute was 
built during his pastorate and a public library and lyceum were 
established. Four 3'oung men of the church commenced fitting 
for college with him and are now all useful ministers of the 
gospel. It is doubtless owing to his influence that it is said, 
Terryville has fitted more young men for college than any other 
place of its size in the state. In the summer of 1S46 he was 
dismissed, and was employed two years by the state, in holding 
Teachers' Institutes and inciting the people to establish a Normal 
School for the training of teachers. The State Noi mal School 
was soon after established. During this time he supplied the 
church in Durham, Conn. He was re-settled in Terryville in 
May, 1S49, where he remained until January, 1S5S. Preaching 
was his delight, and the church was built up in numbers and 
character. The late Dr. Bushnell said, after an exchange with 
Mr. Richardson, that he had never preached to a more responsive 
audience, or one wheie the majority were men, and most of 
them intelligent looking young men. 

He was settled in Salem Street Church, Worcester, Mass., 
in iS^S, going l^ack to Terryville in the early spring, to receive 
forty into the church, as they had no settled pastor at that time. 
He was strong in body and strong in soul. He was a philan- 
thropist. Christian abolitionist, and during the war all his 
energies were given to sustain the government and secure the 
overthrow of slavery. During the second year of the war, when 
many were feeling that in order to put down the rebellion, all 
the means God had placed in our hands must be used, and that 
liberty throughout the land should be proclaimed, a mass meet- 
ing was held in Mechanics' Hall, Worcester, under the following 
call : " Is the President waiting to hear from the people.^ Will 
they speak .^ " The leading men of the town were on the plat- 
form, and the hall was packed to overflowing. After the 
opening remarks by the president, J. S. C. Knowlton, Mr. Rich- 
ardson, in behalf of a committee, presented the first resolutions 
sent to President Lincoln, asking him to proclaim emancipation 
to the slave. 

More than a hundred young men went from his church to 
the war (his oldest son, Willis Terry, among the number), who 
felt as they went, that the cause was more sacred, because he 
had said to them, " God bless you." 

After the war he was urged to represent the people at 
Washington, but he refused all ofiice, clung to the pulpit as his 
throne, and was a happy and successful minister of the gospel. 
Ill health overtook him at last and he was obliged to take rest 
for a time. Receiving a call to the New England Congrega- 
tional Church in New York, which the Rev. Lyman Abbot had 
just left, he accepted, but only remained two years. Needing a 



6o 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Re\-. H. B. Mcad^ 



f^^ 


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4 




il 


p' ' \ '' 


^v 



Rev. L. S. Griggs 



CHUucii Hisronv. 6i 

quiet home, he accepted a call to the church iu Milfoid, Mass., 
where he diet! December 12, 1S76, aged sixty-four years. His 
remaius were brought to Terry ville for buriah 

Mr. Richardson was twice married. His first wife was 
Emily Allen, daughter of Deacon Ira Allen, of Middlebury, Vt. 
Their children were Merrill, Cheney and Martha Allen.^ His 
second wife was Eunice Terry, daughter of Eli Terry, Jr. 
Their children were Willis Terry, Charles Holbrook, Leila a'nd 
Franklin VVhittemore. 

During the time between the periods of Mr. Richardson's 
labors. Rev. Judson A. Root was nominally j^astor. He was 
settled October 7, 1846, and dismissed May" 16, 1S49. But ill 
health had incapacitated him for the perfoimance of the duties of 
his olfice after April 30, 1847, ^^ which time he resigned the 
pastoral charge. He continued to decline until his death. 
During a portion of the time in which Mr. Root was pastor. 
Rev. Samuel J. Andrews was employed as a supply. He acted 
in that capacity for at least six months. After the last dismissal 
of Mr. Richardson, Edward A. Walker, a student from Yale 
Theological Seminary, supplied the pulpit. In connection with 
his labors, an extensive revival began, which continued under 
the efforts of his successor. 

John Monteith, Jr., was ordained pastor October 27, iS^^jS. 
His ministry is a memorable era in the history of the church. 
A great accession of converts was received; sixty-four in iSsS, 
seven in 1S59, four in i860. 

Following upon Mr. Monteith, who was dismissed Julv y, 
1S60 — the dismissal to take effect the first Sabbath in vSeptember 
— came another minister direct!}? from a theological seminarv, 
A. Hastings Ross, who supplied the pulpit for six monttis. 
tlis successor was Rev. Edwin R. Dimock, whose labors 
covered a period of eighteen months. After ^Ir. Dimock, Rev. 
H. H. McFarland supplied for six months, and was succeeded 
by Rev. Franklin A. Spencer, who was installed pastor June 24, 
1863, and was dismissed May i, 1S65. A revival attended his 
labors, and upward of thirty were added to the church bv pro- 
fession of faith 

Rev. E. M. Wright began labor as acting pastor, Mnrch 1 1, 
1866, and resigned April 17, 1S70, broken down in health and 
spirit by the sudden death of his wife. Henry B. Mead was 
ordained June 7, 1871, and dismissed Ma}' 12, 1874. During 
his ministry there was an accession of thirty-three h\ profession 
of faith. 

Rev. Leverett S. Griggs began labor as acting pastor Octo- 
ber 25, 1874, and continued until October 17, 1SS7. Durino- his 
ministry, covering a period of thirteen years, 163 were added 
to the church by profession of faith. Rev. Wm. F. Arms next 
followed as acting pastor on March 5, 1888, and remained for 
five years until May, 1893. There were thirty-six added by 
profession during these years. Rev. Wm. Alfred Gay, D. D.', 
has been acting pastor since October i, 1S93. 

The following figures in part show the growth of the church. 



62 



IIIMORV Ol- PLVMOr III. 




Re\'. W. h. Anns 




Rev. Wm. Alfri'J (~,a\. 



CHUKCH HISTORY. 63 

vSiartincr witli a membership of ^5 in 1S3S, il liaci an enrollment 
December 31, 1850, ot i z^ ; January i, 1858, 149; December 
31, 1S60, 219; JJecembei- 31, 1865, 231; Februar\ 1, 1879, 277; 
April I, 1895, 28S. 

Duiing- the fitty-sexen }ears of its existence, it has had the 
j)rivilege ul furnishing four candidates for the gospel minislr) , 
viz., Edwin Johnson, lately pastor of the Second Congregational 
Church of Bridgeport ; Linus Blakeslee, pastor of the First 
Congregational Church of Topeka, Kan. ; Horace R. Williams, 
pastor of the Congregational Church of Almont, Mich. ; and 
Moseley H. Williams, engaged in the work of the Ameiican 
SuneUi) -school Union, Philadelphia; also Clara M. 13each, one 
of its members, is a Bible teacher in Cawnpore, India; and 
Ralph C. Goodwin, secretary of the Y. M. C. A., at Cam- 
bridge, !Mass. 

The Sabbath-school preceded the organization of the church, 
being first held in the old red school house in 1834. Theie were 
four classes, taught by Milo Blakeslee, Philo Lewis, Miss Rhoda 
Swift (later Mrs. James Hunter), and Mrs. Sherman Guernsey. 
The session was at nine o'clock in the morning, giving an oppor- 
tunity to attend the morning service at Plymouth. After this, 
Bible classes were held at private houses, imtil the new church 
edifice was occupied. From that time until 18^7, the school 
was organized every year in the spring, and closed in the fall. 

There were no records kept during those )ears, but it is 
remembered that Deacon Milo Blakeslee was first elected super- 
intendent, followed by Warren Goodwin, Phineas Hitchcock, 
James Edmunds, with Miss Hannah Goodwin, assistant ; Deacon 
vS. B. Terry, with Miss Eliza Bunnell (Mrs. Carpenter), assistant ; 
Warren Goodwin, N. C. Boardman, Gains A. Norton, and per- 
haps others, each serving one or more years. In May, 18^7, 
R. D. H. Allen was elected, and it was decided in the fall to 
continue the school through the winter. The school had 
numbered about forty in 1S45, and forty-five in 1S49. During 
the revival of 18^8, and under the ministry of E. A. Walker, the 
school received a new impulse, calling into its membership 
nearly the entire congregation. The school was reorganizecl, 
R D. H. Allen was again elected superintendent, B. S. Beach, 
chorister, which position he filled with little intermission until 
his death ; and A. H. Beach was elected secretary, acting also 
as assistant superintendent, to which position he was elected in 
1859. Mr. Allen continued to hold the office of superintendent 
until Februar}', 186:;, with the following assistants: O. D 
Hunter, appointed October 26, i860, W. H. Scott. February 
I, 1863, and A. H. Beach, February 8, 1864. During all 
these years Mr. Allen had charge of a class of voung men, and 
at his request, A. H. Beach acted (perhaps with the exception 
of one year) as an extra assistant, by relieving him of ni'.ny of 
the details of the superintendent's ofHce. During one year, also. 
Miss Margaret McClintock assisted, having the arrangement and 
oversight of the younger classes. February 10, 186^, James C. 
Mix was chosen superintendent, antl M. D. Ilolcomb assistant. 



64 



HISTORY OF I'LVMOUTII. 



Botli having removed from that phice, J. P. Crawford was 
elected superintendent, October 29, 186^, and selected \\\ H. 
Scott for assistant, who has served in that capacity ever since. 

Air. Crawford was succeeded in 1866 by James Hunter for 
five successive years, and he by N. T. Baldwin tor two years, 
then followed F. W. JVIix for seven years, James B. Baldwin for 
four vears, Wm. B. Ells for three years, E. L. Pond for one 
year, E. G. Woodward for two years. In 1890 James B. Bald- 
win was again chosen, and served for three years more, making 
seven vears in all. George A. Scott was appointed in 1893, and 
is now serving for a third year. 

The house of worship was erected with funds secured bv a 
subscription bearing date September 13, 1837, which amounted 
to $3,=;tS. a small additional sum was raised subsequently to 
complete the building. The chairman of the building committee 
was Wyllys Atwater, and the builder was Rilev Scott. 




Terrxville CciiiL:rf"atl()iial Cluircli (,l( 



The parsonage was donated to the ecclesiastical societv, 
August 26. 1 84 1, by Eli Terry, Sr. 

In iiiS3i in the period of the ministry of Rev. Merrill 
Kicliardson, an enlargement of the capacity of the house of 
worship became necessary, and the galleiies were introduced : 
for which the sum of $467 was provided by subscription. In 
1878 the building was raised up and thoroughly renovated, and 
the lecture room and ladies' parlor constructed underneath. 
The total outlay was something more than $8,000, including the 
cost of the organ, which was contrilnited by the Sabbath-school. 
The chairman of the building committee was O. D. Hunter. 
vServices of re-dedication were held November 6, 1S7S. In the 
spring of 1891 the ladies of the church raised something over 
$400 and added a c >inmodious kitchen, opening from the south 



CHURCH HISTORY. 



65 



end of the lecture room. In 1893 the Sabbath-school fitted up 
the southwest corner of the audience room for the infant class. 

The deacons of the church have been Milo Blakesley, Eli 
Curtiss, Silas B. Terry, Gains A. Norton, R. D. tl. Allen, Ira 
H. Stoughton, Homer Griswold, George M. Allen, Antlrew S. 
Ga\'lord, Jason C. Fenn. 

The clock in the tower, an illustration of the mechanism of 
which is shown on the preceding page, was presented to the 
church by Eli Terry, and is one of the first tower clocks made 
by him. 

TERRVVILLE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

In the early days of Tenyville there was no Catholic ser- 
vice held there, and the first Catholics attended the Congrega- 
tional Church regularly. Later the Rev. Michael O'Neill, of 
Waterbury, drove up once a month and mass was said in the 
house of Philip Ryan until the use of the school house was pro- 
cured. Father O'Neill was followed by Fathers Hendrickson, 
Bohen, Cody, and others. Some of the first Catholics to reside 




Intt-ridr, Terr\'\ille Roman Catholic Church. 



here were Piiilip and Denis Ryan, William Roach, Martin Kear- 
ney, Thomas Keefe, John Byron, John McNamara, Timothy 
Keefe, Thomas Higg'ins, and Timothy McNamara. The five 
first named are now dead. 

No church edifice was erected until thirteen years ago, when 
the present church was built by the late Rev. Eugene Gafiney. 
The lot on which it is built was bought by John McNamara and 
the citizens, irrespective of creed, contributed generously to the 
building fund. After Father Gafihey's death the parish was for 
some years attended by Rev. J. W. Fones. He was succeeded 



66 



insiOKV OF PLYMOUTH. 




Rev. M. J. Daly. 




Terrvville R(jii..i!i Cu! 



CIIUKCII HisroKV. 67 

by Rev. M. J. McGivney, both since deceased. At present 
divine service is lield every Sunday and iioly days, and frequentlv 
on week days. Rev. M. J. Daly is in charge, assisted by Rev. 
P. Byrne. The churcli is entirely out of debt and has a mem- 
bership of about 400. 

The Catholic cemetery was purchased by Philip Rvan 
September. 1858. The fiist interred in said cemetery was 
Denis Ryan, who died September 3, 1S5S, aged fifty-eight 
years. 

THE ADA'ENT CHAPEL. 

There are probably few in Plymouth who remember that 
near the Levi Bassett farm there once stood an Advent Chapel. 
It was built during" the Millerite excitement, or when it was at 
its height. Rev. Lewis Gunn preached or lectured there for 
about a year, but was finally forbidden to continue as he was not 
an Adventist. The building was finally sold and changed into a 
dwelling. Probably owing to the fact that Mr. Gunn preached 
in that Advent Chapel, a number of people assumed that he was 
a believer or follower of their peculiar doctrines. This was not 
so, as he was never anything but a Methodist. He withdrew 
from the conference before the war, at the time of the north and 
south church troubles, as he was an ardent Abolitionist, and 
would not be muzzled in his utterances by the church. After 
the war he again joined the conference and preached as a regular 
pastor in various places. Senator O. H. Piatt said of him : 
" He was a man of strong and unique character, he espoused the 
cause of the slave, denounced the slave-holder and his abettors, 
and encountered the persecution which befel the outspoken 
Abolitionist. As a clergyman he was practically silenced ; the 
conference would give the Abolition preacher no charge, and he 
retired to the seclusion of his modest farm. Lewis Gunn was a 
moral hero. The weapons of his warfare were not carnal, but 
few men ever wielded the sword of the spirit or the battle-ax of 
the reformer more fearlessly. Had he lived in Boston or Phila- 
delphia, he would have been noted as a leading champion of 
human rights." Mr. Gunn was able, independent and broad, 
his discourses were always interesting, instructive and accept- 
able to all who were followers of Christ, without regard to 
denomination or creed. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE "wilderness" AND INDIANS.* 



Most of Litchfield County in 1712 an Unbroken Forest as Absolute as any on the 
Continent— Last Deer Shot in Northbury— Indian Jack and Two Companions 
Were the Only Indians in Plymouth Within the Remembrance of People Now 
Living. 

T^T'ESTBURY was a society in Waterburv, which town as 
V V lias been said, was settled in 1677, and at this date ( 1739) 
was in New Haven comity, having been transfeiied to it trom 
Hartford county, where it originally belonged, in 1728. Bethle- 
hem was a parish of Woodbury, which was settled in 1673, and 
belonged to Fairfield county until the organization of Litchfield 
county in 17^1. Judea, now Washington, was formed in part 
from territory of New Milford, which was settled in 171 2, and 
belonged to New Haven county, until, like Woodbury, on the 
organization of Litchfield county, it was set ofi' to the new countv. 
North of this frontier line at the date of the last named settle- 
ment, that of New Milford, in 171 2, stretched an unbroken 
wilderness, as absolute as any on the continent at the time ; a 
rough region of rocks and hills and swamps and pathless woods, 
which the white man's foot had never traversed, in which not 
even the Indians made their abode ; De Forest, in his history of 
the Indians of Connecticut, telling us that when the Mohawks 
made their raids through to the Connecticut river, as they used 
to do in the seventeenth century, they traversed the whole 
breadth of Litchfield county without meeting a single human 
being ; the whole region a wild, lonely, gloomy solitude of 
nature, the haunt only of wild beasts, and stretching north con- 
tinuously to the settlements of Canada. It is difficult for us in 
our day, looking upon the cleared farms, the smiling homes, the 
thronged and busy towns of Litchfield county, to realize the 
condition of the region above the Woodbury and New Milfoid 
line at that early day. There was not a single cleared field, nor 
smoke from any white man's dwelling. It was called the 
" Wilderness" and made good its title to the name. In the 
patent of Litchfield, given in 1724, the town is bounded "west, 
part on Shepaug river and part on the wilderness; north, by the 



* Written by the late Rev. E. B. HilUird. 



THE "wilderness" AND INDIANS. 69 



wilderness." Rev. Benjamin Wadswortli, afterwaids president 
of Harvard College, who accompanied commissioners from the 
New England colonies to meet the "Five Nations" of Indians at 
Albany, in 1694, describes the journey as being through "a 
hideous prowling wilderness." Bears abounded, and fiercer 
wolves roving over the mountains and through the woods, waked 
the silence with their bowlings. As late as 1747, the town of 
Goshen "voted to pay Timothy Stanley thirty shillings, old 
tenor, for killing a wolf." Still later, Jacob Beach, in the same 
town, killed four wolves in one year, for which he received in 
bounties sixteen pounds. The same man, in another year, cap- 
tured in traps and otherwise, seventeen bears. In May, 17S3, 
the General Assembly, "the town of Harwinton being of late 
o-reatly infested with wolves," awarded "a bounty of forty 
shillings to Frederick Phelps, of said town for killing a full- 
o-rown wolf." Deer also were common. In Simsbury, "venison, 
for many years was a cheaper food than pork or beef or mutton." 
An old Indian of Harwinton, whom Leverett Smith remembers, 
used to complain that the white hunters had scared away all the 
o-ame by the noise their guns made, saying that with bow and 
arrows he could go into the woods, and in an hour, get game 
enough to last for days. The last deer known to have been 
killed in Plymouth was shot by David Luddington on the meadow 
east of the "Spruces" below Thomaston, in the hard winter of 
17S0, he firing across the river at the deer on the east side. 
That winter was so severe, the snow lying four feet deep in 
March and earlier, travel being possible only on snow shoes, 
that many deer perished from inability to get food, and this one 
had, probably, come in search of it to the spot where he met his 
fate. Nor were wild beasts the only terror of the "Wilderness." 
Hostile Indians from Canada came down through the forest, 
keeping the early settlers in alarm. During the latter part of 
the seventeenth century and the early part of the eighteenth, 
England and France were at war, and the French, having pos- 
session of Canada, instigated these attacks. 

Before the settlement of Litchfield, Waterbury was a frontier 
town, and so specially exposed to such savage incursions, 
scouts were employed, sentinels were stationed on elevated 
places which overlooked the village and the meadows where 
men labored during the day, and "forts" or fortified houses were 
built as places of refuge in case of attack. April 9, 1700, the 
town "voted to fortify Ens. Stanley's house, and if it should 
prove troublesome times, and the town see they have need, two 
more should thev be able." " Att ye same meeting, ye town 
agreed by voate for ye building ye fort about Ensign Standley's 
house, that the town go about it forthwith, al men and boys and 
teams yt are able to work, and to begin to-morrow." This 
means that Ensign Stanley's house should be fortified by being 
surrounded by "palisades," that is a high fence of _ posts set 
upright, close" to each other, which could not be easily scaled. 
"March 3^, 1704^ ye town agreed to fortify Mr. Southmaid's 
hous," they meant to have the minister safe — and " February 31, 



HISTORY OF I'LVMOUril. 



1706, the town agreed to build the foert that is at left, (lieutenant) 
stantllis (the ' ensign ' has been promoted) strong." At the 
same meeting the act was passed to "build a nue foart." "June 
ye 23, 17071 ye town by voate considering our troubles and t'eere 
of an enemie do agree to lay a sid cutting busshies (that is on the 
highways and common pastures of the town) which was warned 
for this day, and this day forthwith to go about finishing and 
repayring ye forts, and to finish them by Wednesday next at 
night." Into these fortified houses in time of alarm, all the peo- 
ple resorted at night, returning again in the morning to their 
own homes and the labors of the day. Nor did the event prove 
these anxieties groundless. In 1710 a party of Indians killed a 
man named Holt, in the south part of this town, on a spur of 
Mt. Toby. About the same time another party captured 
Jonathan Scott and his two boys as they were eating their 
dinner in Hancock's meadow, now Waterville, and carried them 
ofi'to Canada. In Woodbury, another frontier town at the time, 
during King Philip's war a watch was kept from sunset to sun- 
rise ; one-fourth of the men were kept under arms every day, 
taking turns; the watch was directed to call up every man in 
the town an hour before day — the usual time for Indian attacks — 
and each one was directed to arm himself, repair to his appointed 
ward, and there stand guard ready to repel attack, till half an 
hour after sunrise. Scouts on horseback were also sent into the 
woods each day, with directions to go onlv so far as to be able 
to return by nightfall. "Forts" or fortified houses were also 
erected, as in Waterbury. When later, in 1720, Litchfield came 
to be settled, it was in turn a frontier town, and as such most 
exposed to Indian attacks. From 1720 to 1730 five houses were 
surrounded by palisades ; one in the center, one half a mile 
south, one on the east side, one on the west side, and one at 
South Farms, now Morris. Soldiers were stationed to guard 
the inhabitants, both while thev were at work in the field, and 
while attending public worship on the Sabbath. In May, 1722, 
Capt. Jacob Griswold being at work in a field about a mile west 
of the center, two Indians rushed upon him from the woods, 
took him, pinioned his arms and carried him ofl"". During the 
night following the first day's march, however, he managed to 
escape with the guns of his captors, with which, keeping them at 
bay during their pursuit of him the next day, he got back to his 
family. The next year Joseph Harris, while at work in the 
woods, was attacked by a party of Indians, and attempting to 
escape, they pursued him, and finding they could not overtake 
him, shot him dead and scalped him. This was only five years 
before Henry Cook, the first settler here, built his log cabin up 
the river, and thus founded the societv of Northbury and the 
town of Plymouth ; and I have sketched this outline of the 
region north and west, that we might be better able to realize 
the conditions under which the new conmiunity here was 
planted, and our fathers set up their early homes. It was no 
child's play. Away up here in the wilderness, among wild 
beasts and wilder savages, away from friends, amid hardships 



THE " WILDERNESS " AND INDIANS. 7I 

and exposures of every kind, it required a degree of courage and 
fortitude and endurance that we know little ol", and for which 
we should the more supremely honor them. At no small price 
was purchased the inheritance which we so freely enjoy. 

The " Standley Farm," mentioned in the next chapter as 
being given to Cephas and Enos Ford, by their father, 13arnabas 
Ford, was part of the territory conveyed by the Indians to John 
Stanly and others of Farmington by the "black lead mine deed," 
and the confirmatory deed of 17 14. It lay in, and embraced the 
lower part of the village of Thomaston. The surveys of it are 
in the Farmington records, Book III, p. 229. "Bear Hill" is 
the hill which you go up past the house of Mr. Grilley, vSen., 
the " settlement" farm of Rev. Mr. Todd, the first pastor, lying 
on it; the place known as the " Williams place," where Thomas 
Kelly now lives, being the old parsonage spot. In " the lot laid 
out for ye sake of a mine," reappears the phantom of mineral 
wealth, which in the shape of the supposed black lead mine, led 
to the first investment in the territory by the discoverer from 
Farmington, and wliich has haunted the region ever since ; the 
delusion reaching the crown of amusement, in the reservation 
which the third John Sutlifi'made, in all the deeds of land given 
by him in his later years, of " all mines contained therein," with 
special designation in one of them of the " lot" (lying on the 
side-hill north of where Mr. Ransom Sutlift'now lives) " known 
as the Dimon mine;" the precious metals alone not making up 
the wealth of the region, but it being rich also in precious gems. 
The account of the "Common" or "undivided lands" men- 
tioned in the will, and to which perpetual reference is made in 
the early land documents, is as follows: The entire territory of 
the town of Waterbury, with the exception of the eight-acre 
"homelotts" set ofl' at the outset to each of the first settlers to 
build his house on, was owned originally in common by the 
company of those first settlers, who were called " proprietors," 
and the ownership of each in the common territory his "pro- 
priety," or, as in Mr. Ford's will, "right." Of the original 
proprietors, the share owned by each in the common territory 
was proportioned to the amount he had subscribed towards the 
settlement of the town, as the purchase of the land of the Indians, 
and other initial expenses. The total amount of those original 
subscriptions was nearly £2,600, being exactly £2,580. 
Towards this amount, one had subscribed £100 — no one was 
allowed to subscribe more than this, to guard against monopoly 
in the ownership of the territory — another £90, another £6^, 
and so on; and accordingly, of the original 2,580 shares in the 
territorv, a pound subscription representing one share in the 
land, he who had subscribed £100 owned 100 shares, he who 
had subscribed ^^90 ninety shares, and so on ; that is the " right " 
or "propriety" of each settler was proportioned to the amount 
of his original subscription. The land thus owned in common, 
the "proprietors" distributed from time to time, in varying lots, 
among themselves, as there was a demand for it in the market, 
the allotment in each distribution, to each, being proportioned to 



72 



HIS'IOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 







Two Views (if Jack's Ledge. 




THE "wilderness" AND INDIANS. 73 

the size of his "propriety," or the numher of shaies he owned in 
the total property, the order of choice in the distribution being 
determined by lot. Thus, if it was agreed to distribute 10,000 
acres, to the ^100 proprietor was alloted a share of one twenty- 
sixth of the total amount, and to each lesser jDioprietor his pro- 
portionate share. The share of each thus distributed, was 
issued to him in the form of a "land note" so called. Thus if 
the share of one, in a particular distribution, was sixty-five acres, 
he had a land note issued to him of sixty-five acres, which he 
might take up in his turn (decided by lot) anywhere in the 
township, of land not yet taken up, or "laid out," as the term 
was. This allotment he might then sell in quantities to pur- 
chasers, each particular sale being endorsed on the land note by 
the "proprietors' measurer," as the surveyors employed for this 
purpose by the proprietors were called, and so continue to do 
till the whole amount of land expressed in the note had been 
sold, in other words till the endorsements on the note amounted 
together to the face of the note, when, one distribution thus being 
disposed of, another would be made. Such purchase was called 
a " lay out," because " laid " or measured out by the " proprie- 
tors' measurer," who gave to the purchaser a certificate that he 
had laid out such an amount to him on the order of such a pro- 
prietor, and the certificate, containing the measurements and 
bounds of the piece, constituted the purchaser's title to the land, 
as in ordinary land transactions does the deed. The following 
is a land order, or " note " of this kind : 

"To the Town measurers in Waterbury these may Certifie 
you that there may be Laid out in the undivided Land of s'd 
Waterbury to Barnabas Ford vSix Acres of Land on John South- 
mayd's property on the Division Jan. 3d 1738 provided he Lay 
It Joining to his other Lands, he haveing purchased So much of 
sd. Southmayd, and may be laid out on the fifteenth of January 
1740. 

Signed John .Southmayd, Clerk." 

Endorsed : " laid on this note, six acres of land to barnabas 
ford by me. 

William Judd, measurer." 

The following is a full "lay out," in the handwriting, save 
the signature, of Mr. Todd : 

" April ye zi^tli 1740 laid out for Barnaba ford two acres 76 
rods of land a litel west of andreses medow beginning at a white 
oake tree owne of his former Corners then running northward 44 
rods to ye first Station butting east upon the highway West on 
his owne land north on Mr. Sam'll Todd's land laid upon Mr. 
John Southmayd wright upon ye Deuition granted January ye 3 
1739 laid out by me William Judd measurer." 

In these " lay outs," each purchaser selecting his land 
where he pleased, and in such shape as he pleased, only so that 
the specified amount was included, it happened that certain 



74 HISrOliV OF PLYMOUTH. 

undesirable parcels, as rocky side hills, aiul ledges corners 
between diflerent lay outs etc., would tail to be taken up by any 
one, as in that time practically worthless, and thus it has come 
to pass that there remain in town several pieces of " common or 
undivided land," which have never belonged, and do not now 
belong to any individual owner, but are still the property of the 
original owners of the town or their heirs. Such a piece lies on 
the hillside south of the late Chas. Adkin's house, and others else- 
where. The custom is, I understand, for adjoining owners to cut 
off the wood, which has now value. In turn, and unless some of the 
ghosts now being disturbed in the old graveyard in Thomaston, 
appear to challenge them, they are probably safe in so doing. It is 
somewhat singular, that, after all the changes in the town, certain 
pieces of land remain in the same condition as to ownership which 
they were in when Henry Cook built his log cabin here one hun- 
dred and fifty-four years ago. These remaining pieces of " com- 
mon land," and the still remaining timbers of the frame of the old 
first "School hous " will do to go together in our museum of 
town antiquities. The last "measurer" in this society was 
Oliver Todd, father of the late Samuel Todd. In the later days 
of the old measurers, young men, not proprietors' measurers, 
would do the actual work of survey, and certifying it to the legal 
measurers, they would sign the lay outs, and thus constitute 
them legal titles. Apollos Markham did much of this proxy 
work in his earlier years, and we may be sure did it well. 

One of the most interesting sights in the town of Plymouth 
is the old Indian cave near the Wolcott line, about four and a 
half miles from Plymouth Center. Jack's Ledge, as it is called, 
is known to only a few of the older inhabitants with the excep- 
tion of those living near it. The name Indian Heaven, by 
which this section was formerly called, is now obsolete. As late 
as 1S30 there were three Indians still in possession, and among 
them Indian Jack, from whom the ledge has taken its name. 
The large boulder, which was very likely at one time a part of 
the mai.: rock, weighs, as near as can be ascertained, about one 
thousand tons. It forms two entrances to the cave. The open- 
ing was protected from storms by making a roof of trees and 
brush. On entering, there is a passage at least twenty feet long 
and about ten feet wide, leading into a solid rock room which 
was used for a sleeping place. 



CHAPTER \^ 



SOME OF THE PIONEEKS. 



Sketch of Henry Cook, the First Settler, Together with Other Biographies of His 
Followers who Petitioned to Make Northbury a Separate and Distinct Parish. 
Location of Their Homes, Value of Estates, and What Disposition was 
Made of Them. 

THE earliest roll of Northbury is the list of subscribers to the 
petition to the town for winter privileges, bearing date of 
September 29, 1736, and is as follows: 

Henry Cook, John Sutlifi"', Thomas Blakeslee, Barnabas 
Ford, John How, Johnathan Cook, John Sutlift", Jr., Johnathan 
Foot, Samuel Towner, Samuel Frost, Ebenezer Elwell, Gideon 
Allen, Isaac Castle, Daniel Curtis, John Humaston. 

To these is to be added the name of Elnathan Taylor, who 
was among the signers to a second and successful petition to the 
same town meeting at which the first was refused. These six- 
teen men were the pioneers of the town of Plymouth, and, as 
honoring their memories, we wish to know of each all that can 
be known. 

Henry Cook, whose name heads the roll, was the first set- 
tler in the town, coming here from Branford, in 1728. He was 
the son of Henry, of Wallingford, who was the son of Henry, of 
Plymouth, Mass., before 1640; the earliest settler of Plymouth, 
Conn., being thus a grandson of one of the earliest settlers of 
Plymouth, Mass., from which town, doubtless, our town took 
its name. The English ancestors of the Cooks were from the 
county of Kent, and were of the Puritan stock. Henry, of Wal- 
lingford, was one of the original proprietors of that town, coming 
to it unmarried, about 1674; his brother, Samuel, having pre- 
ceded him by four years, signing the fundamental articles of the 
town in 1670. Henry was a farmer, and frequently elected to 
offices of responsibility and trust bv his townsmen. He married 
in Wallingford, and died there in 1705, aged fifty-one years. 
Of him it is recorded in the Wallingford records, under date of 
February 19, 1689-90, " Hennery Cook cast lots (with others) for 
the Falls Plaine." The town of Wallingford at that time 
included the present town of Meriden. and "the Falls Plaine" 



Written by the late Rev. E B. Hillard. in 1882. 



76 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

was what is now vSouth Meriden or Hanover. Henry of North- 
bury, was born in 1683, and thus was about seven years old 
when his father made his home in Hanover. He was first 
married October 8, 1709, and his wife dying within the year, he 
again married, the next year, Mary, daughter of John and JNIary 
Frost, of Branford, and went there to live; coming from there, 
as has been said, to Northbur} , eighteen years later; Samuel 
Frost, another of the pioneers, being likely a relative of his wife. 
He had five children, all probably i^orn in Branford: four sons, 
Johnathan, who signed the petition of 1736 with his father, and 
whose name is thus in the roll of the pioneers, Ebenezer, Samuel 
and Henry ; and one daughter. Thankful, the thankfulness of 
the parents for the gift, perhaps, determining her name. Three 
of the sons, Johnathan, Ebenezer and Henry, settled in North- 
bury. Of Samuel I can get no trace. Johnathan married, June 
15, 1735, Ruth, daughter of William Luttington, then of North 
Haven, who followed his daughter to Northbury two oi' three 
years later, his name first appearing in the petition to the General 
Assembly of May, 1738. Ebenezer married, May 10, 1744, 
Phebe, daughter of Moses Blakeslee, one of the first two deacons 
of the Northbury church, being chosen to the ofiice at the time 
of the organization of the church in 1740- They had eleven 
chikhen ; the mother, who was married in her twenty-second 
year, being herself one of a family of fourteen children. Two of 
their children graduated at Yale College ; Justus, the second 
son, in the class of 1779; and his brother Rozell, seven years 
younger than he, two years before him, in the class of 1777. 
Rozell studied for the ministry ; was licensed to preach by the 
New Haven East Association in 1778, and was settled as the 
third pastor of the church in Montville, June, 1784, where he 
remained till his death in 1798. 

Henry, Jr., married Hannah, daughter of Nathan Benham, 
of Waliingford, November 7, 1745, and had seven children. 
Of these, the fifth, Lemuel, mentioned in Chapter VI, as the 
last survivor of the revolutionary war. 

The founder of the Watcrbiiry American^ Edward Bronson 
Cook, was the great-great-grandson of Samuel, the brother of 
Henry, Sr., of Northbury. 

Mark Leavenworth, grandson of Rev. Mark Leavenworth, 
third pastor of the Waterbury church, married Anna, great- 
granddaughter of Samuel, the cousin of our Henry, Sr., and her 
daughter became the wife of Green Kendrick, Esq., Sr., of 
Waterburv. 

The site of Mr. Cook's house cannot now be positively 
determined. Two considerations had influence in deciding the 
location of the homes of the earliest settlers. First, thev must 
be near natural supplies of good drinking water, for use before 
wells could be dug; and second, it was desirable that they 
should be within easy reach of natural meadows from which hay 
could be procured for the use of the cattle in the winter, before 
there was time to clear up and stock artificial meadows. 
Accordingly we find that the earliest settlements were, as the 



SOME OF THE PIONEERS. 77 

rule, ill the valle\s, where, from the overflow of the streams 
killing the trees, natural meadows were formed. This was the 
casie in the settlement of Hartford, Farmington, Waterbury, and 
Northbury. These natmal meadows were often formed by the 
overflow from beavers' dams ; that below Lyman D. Baldwin's 
saw mill being one of this kind ; the dam which the beavers 
built, nobody knows how long ago, being still plainly visible at 
its foot, constructed on the most scientific principles, an arch 
built in the narrowest part of the outlet, curving up against the 
stream. In cutting a ditch through it some years since, the logs 
were found, standing on end, leaning up stream, embedded in 
the mud which the native builders had packed about them, and 
with forms still preserved. Many of the homes of the early set- 
tlers in Northbury also were established near springs of water, 
as those of Barnabas Fold, Caleb Humaston, John Warner, 
Daniel Potter, and others. 

Of the locality of Mr. Cook's home this only is known. 
Bronson, in his history of Waterbury, published in 1858, says: 
"He had a farm on which he lived, on the west bank of the 
river, not far from the Litchfield boundary." There was a very 
early settlement up the river. Jeremiah Feck, the first deacon 
of the Northbury church, living there, and having a daughter 
Ruth, whom Rev. Mark Leavenworth, then lately " called," a 
young man, to Waterbury, Init not yet settled, used to go up 
ithere courting, and preaching in the neighborhood on his visits- — 
taking for his texts, doubtless, the " new commandment," and 
parallel passages — thus killing two birds with one stone, and 
"bagging" at least one of them, for he married the fair Ruth, 
February 6, 1740, a month before his ordination. Mr. Peck and 
Mr. Cook doubtless were neighbors, and as we have seen, their 
families became united in after years by marriage. 

Air. Cook, it seems probable, died not far from 1740. In 
1737, Mr. Cook's property was entered in the Waterbury Grand 
List at £66, standing the fortieth, in amount, in the town, and 
the seventh among the early settlers of Northbury. 

The following is a /(7C-s/////7i' of his signature as appended to 
the petition of 1736: 

in which, it will be seen, his hand already began to tremble 
from approaching age. His autograph is the most marked and 
distinctive of all the early signatures, and denotes strength and 
independence of character. 

He was buried, doubtless, in the old burying ground in 
Thomaston, though no stone remains to mark his grave. 

Taking him all in all, from what we can learn of him, 
Henry Cook was a man of whom the town has no occasion to be 
ashamed as its first settler and pioneer founder. 

lohn Sutlifl'was the second settler in the town, coming to it 



78 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

as early as 1730; his name being mentioned, witli that of Henry 
Cook, in the vote of the town, dated December 14, 1730, relating 
to the "school money." Mr. Sutlifi' was born in 1674; where 
it is not known. He came here from "• Haddam quarter," a part 
of the original town of Haddam, which was annexed to Durham 
in 1773- The earliest we learn of him, he was in Branford, 
where in the records of the church he is enrolled as' a member, 
joining in 170S, and the baptisms of his six oldest daughters (he 
had eight), viz., Hannah, Mary, Lydia, Abigail, Elizabeth, and 
Deborah are entered under dates ol 1699, 1701, 1704, 1706, 1708, 
1710 respectively; and of his son Abel in 1730. From Branford 
Mr. Sutliff went to Durham among the first settlers of that town, 
being appointed a town officer at the first town meeting in 1706 ; 
and being one of the inhabitants to whom the patent of the town 
was granted by the legislature in 1 70S — going still to Branford 
to church, and having his children baptized there, till a church 
was organized in Durham some years later. He had a brother 
Nathaniel, who was with him in Branford, and went with him 
to Durham, being also appointed a town officer, viz., constable, 
at the first town meeting of the latter town. At the same meet- 
ing it was voted "that the pound be between Nathaniel and 
John Sutlift", on the E. side ot the street," by which it appears 
that the brothers lived on adjoining farms. On the granting of 
the patent of the town (170S) John was appointed on a com- 
mittee with two others, to run the town lines, and the next year, 
"the town made choice of Sergt. John Sutliff to go to Guilford 
and elsewhere, to gather what money ye gentlemen that have 
farms within the town will contribute towards the building of 
the Meeting house." The explanation of this vote is the follow- 
ing: The territory of Durham was supposed originally to be 
embraced within the limits of the adjoining towns; but when 
their lines came to be surveyed, it was found that there was a 
tract left, not included in them. This still remaining the prop- 
erty of the colony, it became the custom, when a citizen had 
rendered any distinguished public service, as that of Capt. John 
Mason in his campaign against the Pequots, to reward him by 
the gift of a farm in the common tract. These owners did not, 
in many instances, become residents, and accordingly when the 
town came to be settled, there were no resident citizens repre- 
senting their property, and so, when the inhabitants came to 
build the meeting house, though non-residents, they were applied 
to for aid, and being gentlemen of distinction, it is a token of the 
high standing of Mr. Sutlifi'among the early settlers of the town 
that he was chosen to represent them in their application. His 
brother, Natlianiel, was also one of the foremost citizens of the 
new town. In the Durham records, the brothers are mentioned 
as " of Deerfield," from which it is likely that that town in 
Massachusetts was their birthplace. There is also a power of 
attorney, dated " Durham, Oct. ist, 1715," given by Nathaniel 
to his brother John, empowering him to collect any debts due 
him from anv persons "within the province of the Massachusetts 
Bay, and particularly of John Plimpton of the town of Medfield 



SOME OF THE PIONEERS. 



79 



within the said province," which goes to conhim the supposition 
that they resided in Massachusetts before coming to Branlbrd. 

The name as signed by Nathaniel to the power of attorney, 
was written " Suthef," which was lilvcly the original spelling ol' 
the name. In 1723, the two brothers, John and Nathaniel, set- 
tled on Haddam quarter, having the permission of the town of 
Haddam to attend public worship still in Durham ; and from 
there John came to Northbury- Nathaniel remaining a perma- 
nent and prominent inhabitant of Durham. John settled on the 
west side of the river below the "Spruces," his house being on 
the spot where Johnathan Warner now lives ; a supply of good 
water being handy in the brook, fed from springs, that runs on 
the north side at the foot of the knoll on which the house stood. 
He came to own all the land west as far as the " Hemlocks" and 
between Cemeteiy Hill on the north and the Knife Shop village 
on the south; the tract being known as "• Sutliti" Swamp. " He 
also owned the mill privilege at what is now known as the 
Woolen mill ; having a grist mill there, the first one in the town, 
and so he became the pioneer miller of the town. 

An original will of his is in existence in the possession of 
Bennett Sutliti"!, dated March 3, 1740-41, bearing his signature, 
and those of Samuel Todd, the first pastor of the Northbury 
church and "Mercey," his wife, and Caleb Humaston, as wit- 
nesses. This will was supeiscded by a later one, on which his 
estate was settled, but which difi'ered from this only in one or 
two minor points. In this will he says, "Being in ye Exercise 
of my reason and understanding Touching yt worldly estate where- 
with it hath pleased God to bless me, I Demise and dispose of 
ye Same In The following manner." He then goes on to 
bequeathe unto his "well beloved wife Hannah" one-third part 
of his movable estate, and the use of one-third part of his real 
estate during her natural life. To his son John he gives all the 
land lying on the north side of the highway running through his 
farm (the old Waterbury and Litchfield road), and to his other 
son, Abel, the land lying on the south side of the same. To 
John he gives "a horse, having liberty to choose, also a bridle 
and saddle, and my hunting gun and pistol and sword." To 
Abel a horse, "having liberty to choose after John hath chosen, 
also a bridle and saddle, a gun and pistol." His sword was 
doubtless the one he carried as captain before coming to North- 
bury. The two-thirds of his movable estate not given to his 
wife he gives to his eight daughters, the six already named and 
Martha and Dinah. His farming utensils he gives to his sons, 
and also his " corn mill with the land on which ye s'd mill 
standeth, which (land) I bought of Capt. Thomas Judd of 
Waterbury," reserving to- his wife " one-third part of ye profit 
of ye toll of s'd mill to be at her dispose During her natural life." 
He appointed his two sons executors of his will. 

Of these sons, John was the sixth deacon of the Northbury 
ohurch, being chosen in 1744. He lived and kept tavern in the 
house where Wm. A. Leigh, the stone-cutter now lives, the 
present house being the one he built. There is a tradition, that 



8o HISTOKV OP^ PLYMOUTH. 

in digging the well, when they got down to the rock, instead of 
drilling and blasting in the way now usnal, they filled the hole 
with wood, and having thus heated the rock, split it by pouring 
vinegar on it, which if I remember, was the way in which 
Hannibal is said to have split the rocks in cutting a way in his 
march over the Alps. At any rate Mr Leigh tells me that the 
rock at the bottom of the well is thus cracked without drill hole, 
and that the water flows in through the fissure. Deacon John 
Sutlift' died January 39, 1790, aged seventy-six years, as his 
stone, in the old burying ground in Thomaston records, being 
thus born in 1714, and six years older than his brother Abel. 

John, Jr. , married first Anne Ives, daughter of Thomas Ives, 
of New Haven, July i3, 1741- She had one child, John the 3d, 
born March 21, 1713, and died August 5, 1746, aged 3. Her 
grave with the stone plainly marked is in the old burying ground 
in Thomaston, next but one to her husband's; the intervening 
grave being that of his second wife, Martha Bassett, the daughter 
of Samuel Bassett, of New Haven, married April 9, i747' ^y 
whom he had five children. He had a third wife, Esther, who 
survived hira. He was in the old French and Indian war, enter- 
ing as lieutenant and coming out as captain. 

Abel married vSarah, the daughter of Barnabas Ford, and 
had four children, Dinah, Abel, Darius and Lucas. He died 
September 26, 1776. John, Sr., died October 14, 1752, aged 
seventy-eight years. His wife Hannah died November 9, 1761. 
Both are doubtless buried in the old Thomaston ground, though 
their gravestones do not remain. 

The old pioneer was a man of note in his day. He was one 
of the foremost men in Northbury, as he had been in Durham. 
His estate was entered in the Waterbury grand list of 1737, at 
£'91 4s. At his death it inventoried, the land at .£1,330, the 
balance of the estate at £645 17s, Thomas Blakeslee and Jacob 
Blakeslee being the appraisers. There is a cane, in the posses- 
sion of John Sutlifl', of Bristol, the fifth John, marked on a silver 
band just under the knob, " Capt. John Sutlief, 1765"- — marked 
by our John the 2d, the Deacon — which the family tradition 
says was brought over from England, and has been handed 
down from John to John in the family line to the presentholder. 

John the 3d, son of the deacon, was afflicted with a mining 
passion which became a monomania. For years he worked at 
mining just below the .Spruces, the hole where he entered still 
remaining. 

He had twelve children, and was the first to come to meet- 
ing on the Hill in a wheeled vehicle ; Mrs. Hart remembering 
the long wagon in which he used to bring his whole family up 
the long hill. With such families nowadays, the meeting 
houses would be filled as they were of old. 

The next settlers after John Sutlift'were Samuel Towner, 
Elnathan Taylor, and Johnathan Cook, these three coming 
before the close of 1731. 

Of Samuel Towner this only is known. His name disap- 
pears from the Northbury petitions with that of May, i 73S, and 



L 



SOME OF THE PIONEERS. 8l 

he is found in Goshen in 1740 He probably went up there in 
the spring of 1739. A good many settlers were attracted to that 
town in the expectation that it would be made the county seat, 
when a county should be formed ; an expectation justified by its 
central position in the county, but which in the event was des- 
tined to be disappointed. Mr. Towner was a man of large 
means for the time, his estate being entered in the Waterbury 
grand list of 1737 '''■ ^-^^ ; only one of the " pioneers," John 
Sutliff, rating above him. Where he lived here is not known. 
From Goshen he went, in 1750, to Dutchess County, N. Y., and 
in 17S6-7, moved back to Goshen, where his descendants 
remained, and whence they spread. 

Of Elnathan Taylor this only is known, that he owned the 
land now constituting the old burying ground in Thomaston, 
and that he deeded it to the inhabitants of the town of Water- 
bury for that use, in 173^. His name does not appear in the 
grand list of 1737, nor in any petition of the " up river inhabi- 
tants," after the town meeting of September 29, 1736. He 
probably left soon after that date. Where he went to is not 
known. His house, as we learn from the deed of the burying 
ground, was "■on the plain," bv the burying ground or a little 
southward of it. 

[ohnathan Foot's name I must pass over, with simply say- 
ing that he died in 17S4; 'intl that in his will, which is on 
record in the probate office in Woodbury — as are all the wills of 
the pioneers, Waterbury being at that time in the Woodbury 
probate district — he mentions an island, known as " Welton's 
Island," as " Iving up the river." Where that island is I cannot 
learn. Knowing its location, we should from it have some idea 
where Mr. Foot lived. 

Isaac Castle was a native of Woodbury. He was the son 
of Isaac, and tlie grandson of Henry, one of the emigiants from 
Stratford to Woodburv in the settlement of the latter town. He 
was baptized August 9, 1707, but was born earlier, as his brother 
Samuel, next vounger, was baptized the same day with him. 
He married, January 3i, 1723, Tapher, the daughter and oldest 
child of John Warner, one of the earliest settlers of Westbury, 
the first physician of that society, and on the organization of the 
church, chosen one of its first deacons ; the uncle of Deacon 
John Warner, third deacon of the Northbury church. Mr. Castle 
removed from Woodbury to Westbury in 1725, his first child 
being born in the latter place in August of that year. He came 
to Northbury as early as 1736, his name being signed to the first 
petition of the Northbury inhabitants for winter privileges, Sep- 
tember 29, 1736. In John How's deed of the first public ground, 
he describes the land as "taken oft' the land I had of Isaac 
Castle." His first wife, bv whom he had five cliildren, Ashel, 
Sarah, Marv, Lydia, and Abisbai, l)orn respectivelv, in 1725, 
'27, '30, '35, and '38, died soon after he came to Northbury. 
He married for his second wife, December 21, 174O5 Lydia, 
daughter of Richard Scott, " of Sunderland," by whom he had 
eight children, Tapher, Elizabeth, Isaac, Nehitable, Richard, 



82 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

Daniel, Amasa, and Jedidah, born respectively, in 1741, '43, '45r 
'47, '49, 'si, '55, and '57, making the whole number of liis» chil 
dren thirteen. Ashel, his eldest son, married a daughter of 
Gideon Allen, another of the pioneers. Where his house stood 
is not known, the surmise that it stood on the east side of the 
river, being only a surmise, from the circumstance tliat the hill 
between Thomaston and Plymouth was formerly called " Castles' 
Hill," but this name was given to the hill from the fact that four 
Castle brothers lived on it, and in the distribution of the high- 
ways for working, as was the custom, each settler taking a 
section to keep in repair, these brothers took the long hill, and 
it was from this called "the Castles' hill." In the list of Water- 
bury estates of 1737, Mr. Castle is entered £41. When he died 
or where he was buried is not known. 

Daniel Curtiss came from Wallingford, of which toyvn, his 
father, Isaac Curtiss, was one of the original proprietors. He 
was born August 7, 1707. His mother was Abigail Tuttle. 
The Connecticut Curtisses are descended from William Curtiss, 
who came over from England in 1632, landing at Scituate, 
Mass., from which place he removed, first to Roxbury, Mass., 
then to Stratford, Conn., whence the Wallingford Curtisses 
came to that town. In November, 1679, the town "granted to 
Neh. Royce, Isaac Curtiss, each 3 acres, and Nathaniel How 
and Isaac Royce, each 2 acres, and all at 'dog's misery,'" this 
latter locality being a swampy tract, in which wild animals 
when hunted took refuge, and which was so thick, tangled and 
miry, that the dogs of the hunters were tormented in their 
attempts to get at the game, whence its name, "dog's misery." 
In this action of the town we come upon the names of others of 
the pioneer settlers of Northbury. This " dog's misery," it 
seems, was the occasion of misery not to the dogs only, but also 
to their owners, as appears by a petition to the town, bearing 
date of March 16, 1696, and commencing as follows: "We 
whose names are underwritten, being in some mesure sencable 
of ye mezery of Contention and yt there is too much of it in our 
Town and one part of it is about dogs mezery, which may hasard 
Ciiarge to ye Town, if not timely prevented, &c." Signed by 
Nehemiah Royce, the grandfather of our Phineas Royce, 
Nathaniel How, of the family of our John How, Isaac Curtiss 
and others. Mr. Curtiss was one of the earliest settlers of 
Northburv. He came with a family, his wife's name being 
" Lettice," and they bringing with them two children, Ebenezer 
and Jotham. Their third child, Jesse, was the first child born 
in Northbury, the date of his birth being September 22, 1733; 
Samuel How, reported the first child born here, not being born 
here, but in Wallingford He had other children born here as 
follows: Abigail in 173S1 Lucy in '37, Isaac in '40, Sarah in '42, 
Ruth in '44, Lettice in '46, and Daniel in '48, ten in all. He 
died November 2^, 1750, in the forty-third year of his age, leav- 
ing an estate appraised by John Humaston, Caleb Humaston and 
John Bronson, at ^'4,468 12s, being the largest estate left by 
any of the pioneers, that of Caleb Humaston being next. 



SOME OF THE PIONEERS. S3 

The estate of Mr. Curtiss was entered in the Waterbury list 
of 17371 at £?iZ- ^y what process he managed to increase this 
in a little over twenty years to ^"4,500, it would be interesting 
to know, especially' with a family of ten children on his hands. 
Perhaps the Lord helped him out as a reward for his domestic 
faithfulness. 

Mr. Curtiss was a prominent man in the new community. 
In extending a call to Rev. Mr. Todd to be their pastor, he was 
appointed with Moses Blakeslee and Jeremiah Peck (chosen the 
two first deacons) to convey the call to Mr. Todd, and receive 
his answer. In the militar3' line, he attained as early as 174=5 to 
the distinction of lieutenant, by which title he was afterwards 
known. He lies buried in the old ground on the Hill, his grave- 
stone bearing the following inscription : 

" Here lies ye Body of Lieut. Daniel Curtiss, he died 
Novbr ye 35th, 1750, in ye 43d year of his age. Mortals attend 
to learn your end." His wife lies buried beside him, having died 
the year before him, in the thirty-ninth year of her age. 

Ebenezer Elwell came from Branford, with a family, in 
1732. Seven of his children were born before he came to 
Northbury, the first born here, Anne, being entered in the 
Waterbury records as his " Sth," "born Dec. 5th, 1733," and 
so being the second child, and first girl born in Northbury ; thus 
taking the head over Experience Blakeslee, daughter of Capt. 
Thomas, whom tradition has reported as the first female child 
born in Northbury, but who was not born till January 3, 1734-5. 
His ninth and last child was Samuel, born April 27, i73^- 
His other children, born before coming here, were Ebenezer, 
Mark, Johnathan, Catherine, Judith and Lydia, and one whose 
name I do not learn. His wife, Catherine, died January 9, 
1743-4; and he married again in 1744, Hannah, daughter of 
Edmund Scott, of Waterbury. He died December 24, 1754. 
Where he lived, or where be was buried, I have not been able 
to learn. Among the bequests of his will — which was witnessed 
by Rev. Mr. Todd and John How, being doubtless written by 
Mr. Todd — was " land on the east side of the river," appraised 
at ;^284, to Ebenezer, and " land on the west side of the river," 
appraised at ^1,242, to Mark. His daughter Catherine, or 
" Catrine " as her name was written, was married to Abraham 
Luddington ; Judith to James Curtiss; and Lydia to Nathaniel 
Barnes. To Anne, unmarried at the date of his death, her 
father, to console her doubtless for the lack of a husband, made 
the following bequest: "I do will and bequeathe to my 
daughter Anne, my great Brass Kettle, to be her own " — a rare 
treasure in those days, and which likely secured her a husband 
as soon as the bequest was known. Mr. Elwell's property was 
entered in the Waterbury grand list of i737i '^^ .^74' ^" that he 
too had prospered in his worldly estate. 

Barnabas Ford was, in more senses than one, the " head 
centre " of the new community. His "new dwelling house" 
was the centre of the circuit of two and a half miles radius, 
which the early petitions specified as the proposed limit of the 



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JQC XL "T 



SOME OF THE I'lOXEEKS. 85 

itants " to employ a minister for two years, with exemption from 
parish rates at the town center for that time. In prospect of the 
settlement of a minister, Mr. Ford, December 13, 1738, •• for the 
consideration of being freed from the charge of settling the first 
minister In the north part of the Bounds of Waterbury u{>on the 
River," gave to " the said Society and the present inhabitants, 
two acres of land, to be taken of the North part of my farm. In 
the following form, viz. : beginning at the .Southwest comer of 
Sam'l Frost's land, etc." This land was part of the ".Settle- 
ment" given Rev. Mr. Todd at his installation as first pastor of 
the Northbury church. A year and a half later, Mr. Todd sold 
and deeded back to !Mr. Ford an acre and fifty rods of this land, 
••to be taken of my Home Lott." When the Episcopal church 
came to be organized in Xortlibury, Mr. Ford, ''in consideration 
of one hundred pounds money, contributed to me by my neigh- 
bors, members of the church of England, by and with their 
advice, for the first of the lands to endow the said church in 
Northbury," as runs the deed, deeded to the " Society for the 
Propagation of the gospel in Foreign Parts," the English pro- 
selyting societv, " one piece of land containing forty acres being 
and lying in said Northbury. eastward from the church, it being 
the west end of the farm that belonged to Thomas Clark, of 
Waterbury." The first church property, thus, in each society, 
came from the land of Mr. Ford. At the organization of the 
society of Northbur\' in 1739, he was one of the three, who, as 
the law required, applied for the issuing of the •' worant" warn- 
ing the first society meeting, and at that meeting he was chosen 
" Clark for the Sosiatv of Northbury," and the opening records 
of the societ\' are in his handwriting. '-At ye same <first» 
meating (of the society) it was voted that Jeremiah Peck, Daniel 
Cuitiss and Barnabas Ford, should be freed from ye charge of 
boulding Mr, Samuel todd's house:" Mr. Ford, for the con- 
sideration of the two acres given to the society the year before, 
as the other two. doubtless, for like considerations. 

Mr. Ford died March 10, 1746-7, in the fifty-third year of 
his a^e. His will, which is a long and elaborate ore. com- 
mences with the following preamble, illustrative o: oi 

his time, for nearly all the wills then written, began :ne 

same way : 

•• In the name of God amen : the 27th day of Tanuar\- in ye 
vear of our Lord 1 746. I Barnabas Ford of Northbury, in ye 
County of New Haven, in his majesties Colony of Connecticut 
in New England, being weak of body but of sound mind and 
memorv, thanks be to God. and calling to mind ray own 
mortalitv, and knowing that it is appointed unto men once to 
die, do ordain this mv last will and Testament, that it is to say 
principallv I Give and recommend my soul into ye hands of 
God that gave it. hoping thro Jesus Christ my Savior to have 
free pardon of all mv sins and to inherit Eternal life, and my 
bodv I commit to ye earth to be decently buried at ye discretion 
of mv Executors hereafter named, believing that at ye general 
Resurrection of ve dead I shall receive the same again bv ve 



S6 HIS TOR V OF PLYMOUTH. 

mighty power of God ; and as touching the worldly estate 
wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I Give 
demise and dispose in the following manner." 

To his " well beloved wife, Mary Ford," he gives " ye use 
and improvement of one-third part of all ye Land in the Farm 
that my house and Barn stands on in s'd Northbury, together 
witn one-third part of my barn and one-half of my dwelling 
house, that is the South Westerly end of s'd house &c." To 
Ebenezer, his eldest son, he gives the other half of the house, 
etc. To his two sons Cephas and Enos, he gives " the whole of 
my lot of land known by ye name of my Standley farm, together 
with forty and three acres upon Bear Hill, which I bought of 
Mr. Todd, and six "acres which I laid owt adjoining to it, and the 
whole of my part of the lot laid out for ye sake of a mine, and 
the whole of my undivided right in the Common Lands in 
Waterbury, etc." 

Mr. Ford bequeathes three guns to three of his boys; "to 
my son Ebenezer my old Gun," "to my son Cephas ye Gun 
that I bought of Mr. Cole," " to my son Enos ye Gun that I 
bought of Serj't Royce." He was thus well armed. His 
youngest son Abel, then only eight years old, he probably 
thought too young to be intrusted with firearms. Mr. Ford's 
daughter Sarah, had already married Abel Sutliil", the youngest 
and somewhat shiftless son of the ist John Sutliff, and from the 
following note from Thomas Clark, Justice of Waterbury, it 
would seem that he found difhculty in drawing out of his rich 
father-in-law all the money he wanted : 

"To Mr Barnabas ford Sir your son in law Abel Sutliti' 
wants to borrow fifty-five shillings if you please to let him have 
so much and I will wait till June next for it. 

Thomas Clakk." 

Whether this intercession prevailed with the obdurate 
father-in-law or not, does not appear. 

Mr. Ford's " well beloved wife Mary," left by the will in 
the care of her sons Ebenezer and Abel, seems not to have fared 
altogether happily at their hands. A controversy manifestly 
arose between them as to the cost of providing lor her, the fol- 
lowing bill against her being found among the Ford papers: 

"Mother Ford Deter for my wifes Looking after Her dress- 
ing and undressing Her washing baking and Brewing for Her 
and brother Abel from May in the year 17=57 until november in 
Ad 1758 Jind some afterwards, itt all amounts to the sum of 
^6 so do. 

Here we see the old woman, helpless in her age, and a 
subject of quarrel between her two sons. This quarrel about 
their mother's support was finally left out to arbitrators to deter- 
mine, and they rendered the following decree: 

Nortlibury May ye 12, 1766. 
we the arbitrators in a Case Depending between wid. marah 
Ford and her .Sons Eben'r <.*\: abel, being met at ve Dweeling 



SOME OF THE PIONEERS. Sj 

house of Eliphalet Hartshorn have Considered ye above s'd case 
& have agreed that Each of her s'd Sons shall give ye s'd widdow 
one pound ten Shillings pr annum to be paid in provitions. 

Eliphalet Hartshorn ") 

Abner Blakeslee y arbetrators. 

Asher Blakeslee j 

It was a significant mistake which the arbitrators made in 
rendering their decree in the widow's name — " Marah " instead 
of " Mary " — for the life of the " well beloved " of her husband 
had been made " bitter" by becoming a burden to her unloving 
children; the name the "•arbitrators" gave her befitting, not 
because, as Naomi, she had been deprived of her sons, but 
because they had been continued to her. God save us all from 
unloved, and so dreary old age. 

Mr. Ford appointed executors of his will, his wife and Capt. 
Thomas Blakeslee. His body was buried in the old burying 
ground in Thomaston, his tombstone bearing the following 
inscription : 

"Here Lyeth ye Body of Barnabas Ford, he dyed March ye 
loth 1746-7 in ye 53d year of his age." 

Peace be to his ashes ! 

Captain Thomas Blakeslee, next in consequence to the 
minister, in the early New England communities, was the cap- 
tain of the "train band," or military company organized in each 
town. Nor was this office a merely ornamental one in those 
days. In a frontier settlement, as Northbury was, exposed to 
attacks of Indians from Canada, where the settlers took their 
guns to meeting with them on the wSabbath, as they did when 
they met for a time, before the tirst meeting house was built, in 
a log house in the neighborhood of the old Deacon Daniel Potter 
place, the command of the military company was liable to be a 
very practical matter, and they chose the best men for the posi- 
tion, as the Plymouth, Mass., colonists chose Miles .Standish. 

The first captain of Northbury, as his tombstone with hon- 
orable pride declares, was Thomas Blakeslee. He was 
<ippointed to his command at the May session of the General 
Assembly in 1740, as the following entry in the Colonial 
Records shows: "This assembly do establish and confirm Mr. 
Tiiomas Blachley to be captain of the third company or train 
band in the town of Waterburv, and order that he be commis- 
sioned accordingly." The companv was organized that spring. 
At the same session of the assembly John Brunson was appointed 
to be the lieutenant, and Daniel Curtiss the ensign in the same 
company, which newly acquired honors are immediately recog- 
nized in the records of the society, in which these gentlemen, 
who, in the record of the year before are mentioned under their 
plain names, in the record next following, that of August, 
1740, have their military titles given them. The first "train 
tand " of the town was at the center; the second in Westbury, 
now Watertown. It will be observed that in the captain's com- 
mission his name is spelled " Blachley." 



SS msroKV ok plvmouiu. 

Capt, Blakeslee was bum in Noitli Haven, tlien a part ol 
New Haven, in the year 1700. From North Haven he went 
first to Sunderland, Mass., on the Connecticut river above Had- 
ley, where likely he married his wife Mary Scott, the daughter 
of Richard Scott of that town, and sister of Lydia, the second 
wife of Isaac Castle. They had nine children, four born before 
coming to Northbury in 1731. David, born November 2, 1722; 
Reuben, March 9, 1724; Moses, June 30, 1727 ; Mary, Septem- 
ber 7, 1729; and five born here: Submit, in 1731 ; Experience, 
January 3, 1735; Lydia in 1737: Esther in 1^9; and Abigail 
in 1741. Thev came from Sunderland on horseback, the hus- 
band with two of the children on one horse, and the wife with 
the other two on another. Capt. Blakeslee was by occupation a 
farmer, owning land on both sides of the Naugatuck river, as 
appears from his will. His house, doubtless of logs, stood 
where the old Castel house now stands in Thomaston, on Centie 
street. There is a tradition that it was surrounded with pali- 
sades, as a refuge for the settlers in case of an Indian attack. 
His name appears, in his own signature, in the earliest public 
document, the petition of September 29, 1736, of the "up river 
inhabitants" to the town for winter privileges; that is, the privi- 
lege of hiring a minister for the three winter months with 
exemption from paying taxes to the town for that period. In 
this petition his name, which heads the list of petitioners, is 
spelled " Blasle," as it is in the early society records. At the 
first meeting of the societv of Northbury, that in which the 
society was organized, " Mr. Thomas Blasle," not yet captain, 
was appointed with Joseph Clark, John How, John Brunson 
and Gideon Allen, " committee for Mr. Samuel Todd's House," 
the house which the society agreed, as a part of his " settlement" 
to build for their first pastor. 

On the reorganization of the society, after the lireak up on 
tlie question of a meeting house, of which account will be given 
when we go on with the history of the societv, Capt. Blakeslee 
was chosen at the annual meeting, in December, 1742, one of 
the "prudential" or society's committee, which shows that at 
that time he still adhered to the Congregational societv, though 
it had been turned out of the public building by the majority of 
the proprietors, who had " declared for the church of England," 
one of which proprietors Capt. Blakeslee was. and one of the 
remonstrants to the legislature against the building of a new 
meeting house, a circumstance we should bear in mind when we 
come to the question of the origin of the Episcopal Church, 

Abram, the brother of Capt. Thomas, had six children, 
John, Zopher, Abram, Jude, .Stephen and Joel, the youngest of 
whom died in North Haven some fifty years ago. 

Of Capt. Thomas' children, tlie oldest, David, wiio was a 

captain after his fathe<-, married Abigail and lived on his 

father's place, where he kept tavern. He had six children, 
Adna, EH, Asa, David, Phoebe and another daughter. Adna, 
who attained to the distinction of major, married Hannah 
(yravesand lived on the old Blakeslee place below the case shop. 



SOME OF" THE I'lONEEKS. 89 

He was the father ot' Junius, who married Abigail Cooper and 
liad ten children, three of whom are Abraham, William and 
Adeline, wife of Israel Woodward, Esq. 

Phffibe married Jesse Fenn who lived where Burr's store 
now stands He was one of twelve children of Thomas Fenn, 
who lived, all of them, to be over fifty years of age, one of whom 
yitas Jason, father of the late Elam Fenn of Town Hill. 
/ Experience, daughter of Capt. Thomas, married her cousin 
Jude, known as Ensign Jude, his commission being still in exist- 
ence, in the possession of his descendant B. B. Satterlee. He 
lived on the old Blakeslee place, next south of T. J. Bradstreet's. 
He was a tanner, his tannery being in the fork of the roads 
opposite his house, on Twitch Grass Brook. He had ten chil- 
dren, Abi, Polly, Bela, Hannah, Micah, Esther, Betty, Bertha, 
Levee, and Levi 

Abi married Jesse Humaston, son of Caleb, and their 
daughter Sidna married Sherman Pierpont, father of the late 
George Pierpont of PI} mouth Centre. 

Bela married Olive Brown, and lived on the ground where 
Mrs. Edward Thomas now lives. He acted for many years as 
lay reader in St. Peter's ; being called " Deacon Bela." He had 
ten children, the regulation number in the Blakeslee family in 
those days, one of whom, Clara, married John Satterlee, who 
had six children, four of them living to mature age; Merrit L., 
who emigrated to Chicago fifty-two years ago, when that citv 
was scarcely more than a village, and who has witnessed and 
lived through the wonderful changes since, residing there still in 
blind old age; Alfred B., who studied for the ministry, graduat- 
ing first at Brown University and then from the Baptist Theo- 
logical Seminary in Rochester, N. Y. He went in 1S54 to 
India as a missionary, where he died of Asiatic cholera. His 
widow died on her passage home, leaving a daughter, who now^ 
resides in Cleveland, O. The third brother is our honored 
townsman, Bela Blakeslee vSatterlee, well known for his anti- 
quarian tastes and researches, and to whom the town is so greatly 
indebted for his interest and labor in searching out, collecting 
and preserving the materials of its history, without which these 
sketches, or any worthy record of its past, could not have been 
written. More than all others Mr. .Satterlee is the connecting 
link between the primitive period and the present of the history 
of Plymouth, and the town should appreciate and recognize its 
obligations to him in this respect. 

Micah, son of Jude, married Rhoda Hopkins and had ten 
children. He lived near his father Jude's place. He attained 
to the military rank of Colonel, 1^. B. Satterlee having in his 
possession his several commissions up to that grade. He had a 
daughter Philena, who married Randall T. Andrews, the father 
of the present Randall T. Andrews; also a son Marvin, who 
was the father of Stephen Burritt. who was the father of Augus- 
tus, the present postmaster in Thomaston : also a son Edward, 
the father of Lvman W. Blakeslee ; also a daughter named from 
her mother, Rhoda Hopkins, the wife t^f John Bradley. Edward 



•90 HISTORY OF PT.VMOUTH. 

and Marvin built the houses in which T. J. Bradstreet and Dr. 
Woodrurt' now live. Edward was the selectman under whose 
supervision the covered bridge in Thomaston was built in 1836. 
Hannah, daughter of Jude, married Nathaniel Marsh, whose son 
Levi was the father of Riley Marsh, Mrs. Edward Thomas and 
Mrs. Noah Norton. 

Abigail, daughter of Capt. Thomas, married Jacob Potter, 
whose youngest son Demas was drowned in Todd Hollow pond. 
Their oldest son Zenas, married Betty Blakeslee, and their 
oldest son Sherman, married Folly Luddington, granddaughter 
of David Luddington, whose father gave him the farm on which 
the Potter brothers now live, who with Mrs. Geo Gordon, are 
■children of Sherman and Polly Luddington Potter. 

David Luddington was a famous marksman. He shot the 
last deer killed in Plymouth on the meadow under the Spruces, 
firing across the river, and the deer not falling at the first shot, 
firing again, when he found on reaching the deer, that both 
bullets had gone through him. 

Moses Luddington, David's father, went from Wallingford, 
■first to Goshen, where the inhabitants all slept in the fort at 
night from fear of Indians, and worked together during the day, 
taking the work on the several farms in turn, and from Goshen 
came here. He was a surgeon in the French and Indian war, 
and was killed near Lake George. He was cravs'ling along on 
his hands and knees, carrying bullets to the men in the fight, 
when a bullet hit him, as his leg was doubled under, and went 
through both above and below the knee. The powder horn he 
carried is now in the possession of the Potter brothers, as is also 
David's gun. With this he shot several bears, one on a tree 
just opposite the Potter brothers' house, on what was the old 
Dr. Weed place. David was such an unerring shot that he was 
not allowed to shoot in turkey shoots of the da}'. 

Aaron, brother of David, accompanied his father to the war, 
^nd returned. He shot the last bear killed in Plymouth, in 
Todd Hollow. He afterwards moved to Norfolk, where he died 
at an advanced age. 

Capt. Blakeslee died in 177S, and was buried in the old 
graveyard in Thomaston, his tombstone bearing the following 
inscription : 

'' In memory of Mr. Thomas Blakslee, the first captain in 
Northbury who died with the gravil June ye 5 A. D. 1778 in the 
7Sth vear of his age. 

Those days which to the dead were lent, 
To serve God and man he freely spent. 
Hut when his judge for him did call 
With patience bid farewell to all." 

The gravestone of his son David bears the following 
inscription : 

•'In memorv of Capt David Blakslee who died with the 
«tone Feb. iith A. D. 1781 in the ^9 vear of his age. 



SOME OF THE FIONEEKS. 9! 

Worn out with pain, 
He resigned his breath ; 
Trusting with Christ 
His soul will rest." 

Capt. Thomas' wife was an equally important person in her 
department, in a time when doctors were tew, and not always at 
hand, as the following inscription on her tombstone, also in 
poetry, testifies : 

" In memory of Mrs. Mary Blakslee relict of Capt Thomas 
Blakslee who died with a fit of the apoplexy, Oct. ye 4th A. D. 
17S1 in the 79th \ear of her ag-e. 

Forty-two years of her frail life, 
She served in office of midwife ; 
Females lament that she is gone. 
And learn to do as she hath done." 

This wife of Capt. Thomas was the woman who, in the 
legend of Bronson in his history of Waterbury, chanced to have 
the prayer book, the discovery of which was the origin of Epis- 
copacy in Northbury, a pretty myth which disappears before the 
recovered documents of the time. 

Capt. Tliomas left a will which is recorded in the probate 
office in Woodbury, to which district Waterbury at that time 
belonged. It bears date of July 21, 1766. 

In the W^aterbiny list of 1737, Capt. Blackslee's estate is 
entered X*^4 ^^^^ being the sixth in point of size of the settlers 
of that time, Ebenezer Richason being entered at ^,95^ John 
Sutlift', Sr. at £91, Samuel Towner at ^,S8, Gideon Allen at 
^74'« ^^^ Jeremiah Peck at Jj6g. 

Such is the record of an honest sturdy man, of their descent 
from whom his posterity have no reason to be ashamed. 



CHAPTER VI 



K EVOLUTION' All Y JTMES 



The History More or Less Uncertain— Hot-Bed of Toryism— Northbury the Home 
of the Only Tory Known to Have Been Executed in Connecticut— Last 
Pensioner of the "War Born in This Parish, With a Sketch of His Life and 
Enlistment. 

THE part that the inhabitants of Northbury parish took in 
the revolutionary war at this late day can only be told in a 
fragmentary way. The town records of Waterbury and Water- 
town, of which this parish was a part, dtiring the stormy days 
when the struggle for independence was going on, afford but 
little infontiation, while the official papers of the State leave the 
subject a matter of more or less uncertainty and conjectiue. It 
is known that the parish was a strongliold of toryism, a majority 
of the leading men west of the river holding fast to their British 
allegiance. Bitter enmities were engendered and violent acts 
were committed. The disgraceftd doings of the north military 
company or trainband led to its dissolution by the General 
Assembly, its members being added to the Farmingbury and 
Westbury companies and to Captain Nathaniel Barnes' company 
in the same parish. These tories, however, should be judged 
leniently, for they were connected by ties of religious association 
and support with the mother country, and their pastors, sincere 
men, taught them that the colonial cause was treason against 
government and God. While all the action against the tories 
was not justifiable, it was not to be wondered at as human 
nature is constituted. A tory was hung up almost dead on the 
green, and a hook was shown in an old tavern which stood near 
the Andrew Buel place, where others were so hung. Dexil's 
Lane was near that tavern, and County Sheriff Lord of Litchfield 
afterwards made arrests there, so that they said " the Lord came 
down from Litchfield and took the devil out of Plymouth,'" 
though he soon returned. The only torv known to have been 
executed in Connecticut was Moses Dunbar, who was taken 
from Plymouth, tried in Hartford for high treason and hung 
from a tree near where Trinity College now stands, on March 
19, 1777* Dunbar was a voung man, barelV over thirtv years of 
age, honest in his convictions, and was probably a victim of a 
law that unnecessarily deprived him of his life, as the death 
penaltv against treason was soon afterwards repealed. He 



HEVOLUTIO.VAUV TIMES. 93 

offered to contine himself to his farm if allowed his liberty and 
hold no intercourse whatever with his neighbors. His family 
were highly incensed against him because of his joining the 
Episcopal church and later espousing toryism. So indignant 
was his father that he oH'ered to furnish the hemp for a halter to 
hang him with. 

The only records indicative of the revolution was a vote 
December 7, 177S, in consideration of provision running to an 
extravagant piice, to furnish Mr. Storrs certain articles at speci- 
fied prices. In 1774; when Congress resolved on non-intercourse 
with Great Britain, Phineas Royce was moderator of a special 
town meeting in Waterbury, a mark of his prominence. At 
that meeting Nathaniel Barnes, Dr. Roger Conant, and Jotham 
Curtis, of Northbury, were on the committee to see that no tea, 
molasses, sugar, coti'ee, spices, etc., were brought into town and 
sold. At another meeting held January 12th, Stephen Seymour, 
Randal Evans, and David Smith, of Northbury, were on a com- 
mittee to receive donations contributed for the relief of the poor 
in Boston, whose port was then closed bv the British fleet. 
Northbury sent Deacon Camp, father of Deacon Camp, lately of 
Plainville, through the wilderness of Maine with Arnold, to 
besiege Qiiebec in the winter of 177;. Daniel Rowe, grand- 
father of A. Markham on his mother's side, was at the battle of 
Saratoga and was the first to reach Benedict Arnold after he was 
wounded and rendered efficient aid. 

David Smith, who lived where the Qiiiet House now stands, 
attained the rank of major, and subsequently became general of 
the Connecticut militia. He was in General VVooster's regiment 
which took part in the operations along Lake George and 
Champlain. He was at the battle of Germantown, October 4, 
1777, and wintered at Valley Forge in i777"7^i '^"^^ '^^^ there 
appointed brigadier major to General Varnum's brigade by 
general orders March 29, 177S. He was a prominent man at 
the time of the incorporation of Pl\ mouth, having been sent to 
the legislature as a representative from Watertown for several 
terms. He was a merchant and his store was located in the rear 
of the present town building in Plvmouth. He was a member 
of the Society of the Cincinnati. 

Captains Jotham Curtis and Nathan'tl Barnes received ^"6 
and ^,16 respectively as bounties at Fishkill in October, 1777, 
by Lieutenant-Colonel J. Baldwin, for taking their companies to 
the aid of the Continental army on the North river. They also 
tinned out to repel Tryon's invasion at New Haven, July =;, 
1779. Captain Curtis' company was composed as follows: 
Lieutenant, Timothy Pond ; ensign, Samuel Scoville; privates, 
Andrew Storrs, Phineas Rovce, Stephen Curtis, Randal Evans, 
Samuel Curtis, Benjamin Upson, Samuel Penfield, Charles 
Cook, Ebenezer Cook, John Dunbar, Aaron Dunbar, Joel San- 
ford. Jason Fenn, Ithiel Fancher, Joel Fancher, David Foot, 
David Huniaston, John Sutlifl', Samuel Griggs, Zachariah 
Hitchcock, James Curtis. Eliakim Potter. Bartholomew Pond, 
Hezekiah Tuttle. Parker, William vSout'.imavd. 



94 



iiisrom OF pi^^MouiH. 




Lemuel Conk, 
Last Pensioner nf the RevoUitionarv W.i 



REVOLUTIONARY TIMES. 95. 

In the successful campaign in the French war, when Crown 
Pouit and Ticonderoga were taken, \\'aterbury furnished a com- 
pany in which John Sutliti' was lieutenant ; in that war Daniel 
Porter was ensign, and Asher Blakeslee, Enos Ford, and others 
were engaged. 

The oldest survivor of the Revolution and the last pensioner 
of that war was born in Northbury parish in 1764. His name 
was Lemuel Cook and he was a son of Henry Cook, the tirst 
settler of the town. He enlisted at Cheshire when only sixteen 
years old. He was mustered in "at Northampton, in the Bay 
State 2d Regiment, Light Dragoons; Sheldon, Col., Stanton, 
Capt." He married Hannah Curtis at Cheshire, by whom he 
had eleven children. He married a second time at the age of 
seventy. About thirty years previous to his death he removed 
to the town of Clarendon (near Rochester), Orleans County, 
New York. He died there May 20, 1866, aged 102 vears. The 
late Rev. E. B. Hillard visited Mr. Cook in July, 1864, and the 
latter related the circumstances of his enlistment and early 
services as follows : 

"When I applied to enlist. Captain Hallibud told me I was 
so small he couldn't take me unless I would enlist for the war. 
The first time I smelt gunpowder was at Valentine's Hill (West 
Chester, New York). A troop of British horse were coming.. 
' Mount your horses in a minute,' cried the colonel. I was on 
mine as quick as a squirrel. There were two fires — crash !. 
Up came Darrow, good old soul ! and said, ' Lem, what do vou 
think of gunpowdei ? Smell good to you.''' 

"The first time I was ordered on sentry was at Dobbs' 
Ferry. A man came out of a barn and leveled his piece and 
fired. I felt the wind of the ball. A soldier near me said, 
'Lem, they mean you; go on the other side of the road.' So I 
went over ; and pretty soon another man came out of the barn 
and aimed and fired. He didn't come near me. Soon another 
came out and fired. His ball lodged in my hat. By this time 
the firing had roused the camp ; and a company of our troops 
came on one side, and a party of the French on the other ; and 
they took the men in the barn prisoners, and brought them in. 
They were Cow Boys. This was the first time I saw the French 
in operation. They stepped as though on edge. They were a 
dreadful proud nation. When thev brought the men in, one of 
them had the impudence to ask, ' Is the man here we fired at 
just now.'' 'Yes,' said Major Tallmadge, 'there he is, that 
boy.' Then he told how they had each laid out a crown, and 
agreed that the one who brought me down should have the three.^ 
When he got through with his story, I stepped to my holster 
and took out my pistol, and walked up to him and said, ' If I've 
been a ma'k to you for money, I'll take my turn now. So, 
deliver your money, or your life ! ' He handed over four crowns, 
and I got three more from the other two." 

Mr. Cook was at the battle of Brandvwine and at Cornwallis'' 
siu'render. Of the latter he gives the following accoimt : 

" It was reported Washington was going to storm New 



96 HISTORV 01- PLYMOUTH. 

York. We had made a by-law in our regiment that every man 
should stick to his horse: if his horse went, he should go with 
him. I was waiter for the quartermaster ; and so had a chance 
to keep my horse in good condition. Baron Steuben was 
mustermaster. He had us called out to select men and horses 
fit for service. When he came to me, he said, ' Young man, 
how old are you .^ ' I told him. 'Be on the ground to-morrow 
morning at nine o'clock,' said he. My colonel didn't like to 
have me go. 'You'll see,' said he, 'they'll call for him to- 
morrow morning.' But they said if we had a law, we must 
abide by it. Next morning, old Steuben had got my name. 
There were eighteen out of the regiment. ' Be on the ground,' 
said lie, ' to-morrow morning with two days' provisions.' 
'You're a fool,' said the rest; 'they're going to storm New 
York.' No more idea of it than of going to Flanders. My 
horse was a bay, and pretty. Next morning I was the second 
on parade. VVe marched ofl' towards White Plains. Then ' left 
wheel,' and struck right north. Got to King's Ferry, below 
Tarrvtown. There were boats, scows, etc. We went right 
across into the Jersevs That night I stood with my back to a 
tree. Then we went on to the head of Elk. There the French 
were. It was dusty ; 'peared to me I should have choked to 
death. One of 'em handed me his canteen ; ' Lem,' said he, 
' take a good horn — we're going to march all night.' I didn't 
know what it was, so I took a full drink. It liked to have 
strangled me. Then we were in Virginia. There wasn't much 
fighting. Cornvvallis tried to force his way north to New York ; 
but fell into the arms of La Fayette, and he drove him back. 
Old Rochambeau told 'em, 'I'll land five hundred from the fleet, 
against your eight hundred.' But they darsn't. We were on a 
kind of side hill. We had plaguey little to eat and nothing to 
drink under heaven. We hove up some brush to keep the flies 
ofl'. Washington ordered that there should be no laughing at 
the British ; said it was bad enough to have to surrender without 
])eing insulted. The army came out with guns clubbed on their 
backs. They were paraded on a great smooth lot, and there 
they stacked their arms. Then came the devil — old women, and 
all (camp followers). One said, 'I wonder if the d — d Yankees 
will give me any bread.' The horses were starved out. Wash- 
ington turned out with his horses and helped 'em up the hill. 
When they see the artillery, they said, 'There, them's the verv 
artillery that belonged to Burgoyne.' Greene come from the 
southard ; the awfullest set you ever see. Some, I should pre- 
sume, had a pint of lice on 'em. No boots nor shoes." 

Mr. Cook's condition, Mr. Hillard described as follows: 
"The old man's talk is very broken and fragmentary. lie 
recalls the past slowly, and witli difticulty ; but when he has 
fixed his mind upon it, all seems to come up clear. His articu- 
lation, also, is very imperfect; so that it is with difficulty that 
his story can be made out. Much of his experience in the war 
seems gone from him ; and in conversation with him he has to 
be left to the coiu'se of his own tliouglits, inciuiries and siigges- 



REVOLUTIONARY TIMES. 97 

tions appearing to confuse him. At the close of the war, he 
n:iarrieci Hannah Curtis, of Cheshire, Connecticut, and lived a 
while in that vicinity ; after which he removed to Utica. New 
York. There he had frequent encounters with the Indians who 
still infested the region. One with whom he had some difficulty 
about cattle, at one time assailed him at a public house, as he 
was on his way home, coming at him with great lury, with a 
drawn knife. Mr. Cook was unarmed ; but catching up a chair 
he presented it as a shield against the Indian's thrusts, till help 
appeared. He says he never knew what fear was, and always 
declared that no man should take him prisoner alive. His frame 
is large, his presence commanding; and in his prime he must 
have possessed prodigious strength. He has evidently been a 
man of most resolute spirit; the old determination still manifest- 
ing itself in his look and words. His voice, the full power of 
which he still retains, is marvellous for its volume and strength. 
Speaking of the present war, he said, in his strong tones, at the 
same time bringing down his cane with force upon the floor, 
' It is terrible ; but, terrible as it is, the rebellion must be put down ! ' 
He still walks comfortably with the help of a cane ; and with the 
aid of glasses reads his ' book,' as he calls the Bible. He is fond 
of company, loves a joke, and is good-natured in a rough sort ot 
way. He likes to relate his experiences in the army and among 
the Indians. He has voted the Democratic ticket since the 
organization of the government, supposing that it still represents 
the same party that it did in Jefferson's time. His pension, 
before its increase, was one hundred dollars. It is now two 
hundred dollars. The old man's health is comfortably good; 
and he enjoys life as much as could be expected at his great age. 
His home, at present, is with a son, whose wife, especially, 
seems to take kind and tender care of him. Altogether, he is a 
noble old man ; and long may it yet be before his name shall be 
missed from the roll of his countrv's deliverers." 



9S 



HISTORY OF PLYMOITH. 




G^n. Eras- .- B jkestte. 



CHAPTER Vll 



THE CniL WAR. 



There Were no Hore Loyal or Brave Soldiers Than the Sons o: Plymou.th. Several 
of Whom Gained Honorable Distinction, while Others Met Untimely Deaths 
at the Front and in the Verv Heat of Battk— Sostar of Those Enlisting or 
Belonging to the Town. 

IX the civil war Plvmouth may well be proud of her record. 
Her sons were scattered in nearly every Connecticut regi- 
ment and some also in regiments from other states. Co. D, 2d 
Connecticut Heavv Artillery, had tift\-three local men. Co. I. 
I St Connecticut rfeavy Artillery, was principally made up of 
Plvmouth men and manv more were in the First Cavalrx". C. \ . 
From the beginning of the war until Lee surrendered these 
brave, loval soldiers were to be found in all the principal con- 
flicts. In several instances their gallant services were bO far 
recognized as to receive deserved promotion. The three princi- 
pal commanding officers of the ist Connecticut Cavalry were 
identified with this town, viz., Brevet Brigadier General Erastus 
Blakeslee. Major L. P. Goodwin (who for a considerable time 
commanded as ranking officer), and Brevet Brigadier General 
Bravton Ives, who belongs to one of the oldest families. 
Another pluck v fighter was Colonel Augustus H. Fenn, now 
judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court, who lost his right arm 
at the battle of Cedar Creek, and in seven weeks reported for 
dutv. Major William B. Ells commanded the 3d Battalion at 
Cold Harbor, and was made a cripple for several years by a shot 
wound in the leg. Lieutenants Franklin J- Candee and Horace 
Hubbard were killed at the Opequan * Creek battle. They 
belonged to the 2d Artillen.', which was in the hottest of the 
fight." Edward P. Smith, of Co. I, ist Artillery, was the first 
Plvmouth soldier who died in service, and his fiineral was 
largelv attended bv people from far and near, his remains having 
been sent to Terrvville embalmed. 

When President Lincoln issued a call for 300.000 more men 
after the disastrous Peninsula campaign, Litchfield count\- voted 
to raise an entire regiment. L. W. Wessells was made Colonel 
a.d the regiment went into camp at Litchfield August 21, 1S62. 
Plymouth united with Watertown to raise a company, the 
recruiting officers beins;^ A. H. Fenn. W. H. Lewis. Jr.. and 



lOO 



inSTOKV OF I'I.^, MOUTH. 




Capt. Eutjene Atwater. 



THE CI\ IL WAK. 



Robert A. Pulter. Flvinouth furnished Ht'ty-three men, \\';iter- 
tovvn eighteen, and Harwinton thirteen. VVm. B. Ells, then 2d 
Lieutenant of the ibt Connecticut Artillery stationed at Foi t 
Richardson, was chosen Captain, VV. H. Lewis, Jr., ist Lieu- 
tenant, and Robert A. Potter, 2d Lieutenant. Tlie regiment 
was the 19th C. V. It was presented with a beautiful stand of 
colors by Mrs. William Curiis Noyes, of Litchfield, and on the 
nth ol' September was mustered into the service of the United 
States for three years. The battalion, consisting of 8S9 men and 
otKcers, left on the 15th for Washington. It moved on to Alex- 
andria where it remained until the middle of January following. 

It was while at this point that Arthur G. Kellogg of Co. C, 
died on the 10th of November, 1S62. His was the third death 
that occurred in the regiment. The health of the soldiers con- 
tinued to grow worse, and as there were reports of neglect and 
harsh treatment of the sick, Governor Buckingham sent Dr. S. T. 
Salisbury of Plymouth, to investigate, who reported that every- 
thing was being done that was possible for the men. 

The regiment was removed to Washington to do defence 
dutv, and in the fall was changed into an artillery regiment, 
recruiting its number to 1,800 men by the following March. 
Up to this period the following Plymouth men had died : 

Burritt H. Tolles, January 13, 1S63, fever, buried in Terr\- 
ville ; Charles J. Cleveland, January 30, 1863, fever, buried in 
Terryville; George H. Holt, February 26, 1863, diphtheria, 
buried in Terryville; Franklin W. Hubbard, April 10, 1863, 
typhoid fever, buried in Terryville; Josiah J. Wadsworth, vSep- 
tember 19, 1863, spotted fever, buried in Hartford; Corporal 
Wesley F. Glover, December 28, 1863, typhoid fever, buried in 
Woodville ; George A. Hoyt, fifer, June 6, 1863, fever, buried 
in Plymouth; Eben Norton, June 12, 1864, fever, buried in 
Plymouth. 

On the 20th of May, 1864, the regiment joined the Army of 
the Potomac near the Spottsylvania Court House and were 
assigned to duty in the 2d Brigade, ist Division, 6th Coips. 
The 3 ist of May the enemv was met and a series of marches 
were begun which culminated at Cold Harbor, June i, 1864. 
In this engagement the regiment had 114 killed, 197 wounded, 
15 missing and 3 died in prison. The rebels plied the position 
with musketry and swept it with grape and canister. Major 
Ells was wounded almost by the first fire. Colonel Kellogg, 
proud of his men. was in advance of the foremost line, his 
towering and conspicuous form making him a target, and he too 
fell in the very beginning of the fight pierced by a dozen bullets. 

The Plymouth company was in the third and rear battalion 
and suffered less severely than some of the other companies, the 
casualties resulting as follows : 

Killed — Philo A. Fenn, shot in the head by sharpshooters, 
June 12, while on duty as sharpshooter; John Murphy, shot in 
heart; George Comstock, real name George Brooks, Petersburg, 
June 23. 

Died of Wounds -George L. Beach, Cold Harbor, thigh, 



I02 



llISTOm OK PI.VMOI'IH. 




Redoubt B, Near Fort Alexandria. Va 




Officers, Second Conn. Heav\ Artillery. 



TJIE Cl\ U. WAI!. 103 

died at Washington, June 14, 1S64, was hit by bullet which was 
afterwards taken out and put on his coffin at funeral; Thomas 
Mann, calf of leg, died at Washington, June 8. 

Wounded — Qiiartermaster-Sergeant David B. Wooster, 
thigh, slight, afterwards killed at Fisher's Hill; Justin O. 
vStoughton, shoulder and back ; Chauncey Culver, side and 
breast, severe; Wallace E. Beach, arm; George T. Cook, 
shoulder; Zelotes F. Grannis, head; Major Wm. B. Ells, leg, 
severe. 

Corporal James R. Baldwin, of Co. E, from Winsted, who 
for some time previous to his enlistment had resided in Plymouth, 
and was a brother of the late N. Taylor Baldwin, was missing in 
this engagement and is believed to have died in a rebel prison. 

On the 20th of June the regiment was in the trenches in 
front of Petersburg. Here Matthias Walter, of Plymouth, was 
wounded by a sharpshooter and John Grieder was fatally 
wounded by a piece from a three inch shell. 

On the 33d of June there was a skirmish with Hill's rebel 
division. Corporal Charles E. Guernsey was wounded in the 
shoulder and thigh and died on the 3Sth. It is supposed he was 
shot by the carelessness of one of his own comrades. George B. 
Hempstead, of Co. B, a former clerk in the store of B. H. Hem- 
ingway, in Terryville, was shot in the right breast, the ball 
lodging in his watch. He also died on the 3Sth. 

The next engagement was the bloody battle of the Opequan. 
Here Hiram T. Coley was killed, as was 1st Lieutenant Franklin 
J. Candee, who while lying on the ground raised his head to 
look at his watch, and was picked oti'by a sharpshooter. Second 
Lieutenant Horace Hubbard had his back fearfully torn by a 
shell and lived but a short time. 

The wounded were Corporal Henry N. Bushnell, neck, 
severe; Corporal David A. Bradley, neck; William Lindley, 
finger; Henry Tolles, head; Corporal Ira H. wStoughton, hip, 
canister; Emery B. Taylor, thigh ; Seeley Morse, thigh ; George 
H. Bates, side and back, shell, severe. 

The next battle was on the 3 2d at Fisher's Hill, (^iiarter- 
master David B. Wooster was killed, and Charles L. Bryan and 
Swift McG. Hunter were slightly wounded. 

Then the memorable battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 
came. The Plymouth men killed were Corporal Edward C. 
Hopson, Corporal William Wright, Abner W. Scott, and 
Charles R. Warner. Walter Oates was missing and doubtless 
died in a rebel prison. Captain Augustus H. Fenn lost his 
right arm at the shoulder. 

The regiment participated in no other battles, but belonged 
to the Army of the Potomac imtil mustered out August 18, 1865. 

Probably all of the older residents will recall the history of 
Dorence Atwater, who kept the records of Andersonville prison. 
He is a son of Henry Atwater, of Plymouth, and when a boy 
was a clerk in the store at Terryville. Colonel A. H. Fenn in 
writing of Mr. Atwater says he "has better claims to enduring 
remembrance than that of any other person from the town ol 



I04 



IIISIOKV OF I'J.VMOL III. 




SurpriSf at CrJ.ir Cifck 




















Hxpltision c.t tlie Miiif at PettMsbur;^. 



TIfE CniL WAK. lO^ 

Plymouth who went into the war." The details of his life 
would read like a romance. At the age of sixteen, on the out- 
break of the war, he enlisted in the first squadron of Connecticut 
Cav'alry, afterwards attached to the Harris Light Cavalry of 
New York. He served for nearly his full term, participating in 
the hard campaigning and sharp battles that command experienced 
and was finally captured and taken to the terrible Andersonville 
prison pen, where so many brave Connecticut boys met their 
death. He was an excellent penman, and for this or some other 
reason he was detailed there for work in the surgeon's office of 
the hospital department, where it was a part of his duty to keep 
a record of the dead, their regiments, number of their graves, 
etc. While doing this he managed to keep an extra copy of the 
record for his own use, and this he brought away with him 
when he was paroled, concealing it under his clothing. Arriving 
at his home in Terryville, wasted almost to a skeleton by sick- 
ness, induced bv army exposure, he was for a while dangerously 
ill. Meantime the war department heard of the valuable records 
and summoned him to Washington and purchased a right to 
copv the records, which were of invaluable service to the 
government and to friends of soldiers in determining the fate of 
many missing men. His carefully kept list contained the names 
of thirteen thousand soldiers dead. His rolls were copied according 
to agreement, and when Miss Clara Barton, the noble friend of 
Union soldiers, went on her expedition to Andersonville after the 
war to identify and properly mark the graves of the dead. 
At water was detailed for service with her, and his records were 
placed in his possession and were the only reliable records 
obtainable for identification of the graves. The details of 
Mr. Atwater's subsequent experiences with the war department 
show the most cruel case of injustice of a government towards 
one of its faithful servants of which we have any knowledge. 
We wnll not enter into the particulars of the experience now. 
He was made to sufler a cruel wrDng which to this day has never 
been righted in the war department. 

In iS68, still suHering in health from his hardships, he was 
ap]5ointed United .States Consul to the .Seychelles Islands, in the 
Indian Ocean. Three years later he was transferred to the 
United States Consulate at Tahiti, in the South Pacific. He 
was a faithful and valuable official in both positions, and only 
resigned after he had served over a score of years. He married 
a Tahitian lady, and by this marriage is allied to the royal 
family. Her father was an English gentleman, for many years 
in business in Tahiti. Mr. Atwater still makes it his home in 
the .South Pacific, coming to San Francisco once or twice a year. 

The following extracts from a report written by Miss Clara 
Barton, published in iS66, will be interesting in connection with 
the above : 

" Having, by official invitation, been placed upon an expedi- 
tion to Andersonville, for the purpose of identifying and marking 
the graves of the dead contained in those noted prison grounds, 
it is perhaps not improper that I make some report of the cir- 



1 66 



HISrOK\ OK PI.\ MOU III. 




Tlie Battle nf tlie Crater. 







Urton's Brigade at Bloods Angle. 



THE eI\lL WAR. 107 

cinnhtances which induced the sending of such an expedition, its 
work, and the appearance, condition, and surroundings of that 
interesting spot, hallowed alike by the sufferings of the mart\rcd 
dead, and the tears and prayers of those who mourn them. 

"■ During a search for the missing men of the United States 
Army, commenced in March, 1865, under the sanction of our 
kite lamented President Lincoln, I formed the acquaintance of 
Dorence Atwater, of Connecticut, a member of the 2d New York 
Cavalry, who had been a prisoner at Belle Isle and Anderson- 
ville twenty-two months, and charged by the rebel authorities 
with the duty of keeping the Death Register of the Union 
Prisoners who died amid the nameless cruelties of the last named 
prison. 

"By niinute inquiry, I learned from All". Atwater the 
method adopted in the burial of the dead; and by carefully com- 
paring his account with a draft which he had made of the 
grounds appropriated for this purpose by the prison authorities, 
I became convinced of the possibility of identifying the graves, 
simplv by comparing the numbered post or board marking each 
man's position in the trench in which he was buried, with the 
corresponding number standing against his name upon the 
register kept by Mr. Atwater, which he informed me was then 
in the possession of the War Department. 

"Assured by the intelligence and frankness of my informant 
of the entire truthfulness of his statements, I decided to impart 
to the officers of the Government the information I had gained, 
and accordingly brought the subject to the attention of General 
Ilortman, Commissary General of prisoners, asking that a party 
or expedition be at once sent to Andersonville for the purpose of 
identifying and marking the graves, and enclosing the grounds; 
and that Dorence Atwater, with his register, accompany the 
same as the proper person to designate and identify. The sub- 
ject appeared to have been not only unheaid, but unthought of; 
and from the generally prevailing impression that no care had 
been taken in the burial of our prisoners, the idea seemed at first 
difficult to be entertained. But the same facts which had served 
to convince me, presented themselves favorably to the good 
understanding and kind heart of General Hoflman, who took 
immediate steps to lay the matter before the Hon. Secretary of 
War, upon whom, at his request, I called the following day, 
and learned from hinl that he had heard and approved my prop- 
osition, and decided to order an expedition, consisting ol 
materials and men, under charge of some government officer, 
for the accomplishment of the objects set forth in my request, 
and invited me to accompanv the expedition in person — which 
invitation T accepted. 

" Accordingly, on the 8th of July, the propeller \'irginia, 
having on board fencing material, head-boards, the prison 
records, forty workmen, clerks and letteiers, under command of 
Capt. James M. Moore, A. Q. M., Dorence Atwater and myself, 
left Washington for Andersonville, via Savannah, (ieorgia, 
arii\ing at the latter place July r2th. Having \\aited at 



loS 



HISTOKV ()!• I'l,^ MOl' III. 




Bur\ int; the DeaJ. 




Cemeterx' ;it AnJersoiu ill 



IHE CI\IL WAR. 



[O9 



Savannah seven days, and then resumed the journey by way of 
Augusta, Atlanta, and Macon, the entire party reached its desti- 
nation in safety about noon on the 35th of Julv. 

"We found the prison grounds, stockade, hospital sheds, 
and the various minor structures, almost in the same condition in 
which they had been evacuated ; and care is taken to leave these 
historic monuments undisturbed, so long as the elements will 
spare them. 

" There is not, and never was, any town or village at this 
place except what grew out of its military occupation. Anderson 
Station, on the railroad from Macon to Eufala, was selected as a 
depot for prisoners, probably on account of its remoteness and 
possible security, and the prison itself, with the buildings which 
sprang up around it, constituted all there was of Andersonville. 

" The original enclosure of nineteen acres was made in the 
unbroken woods; and the timber was only removed as it was 
wanted for the necessities of the prison. The enclosure was 
made in January, 1S64, and enlarged during the summer, to 
twenty-hve and three-quarter acres — being a quadrangle of 1,295 
by S65 feet. The greatest length is from north to south, the 
ground rising from the middle towards each end in rather a 
steep, rounded hill — the northern one being at once the highest 
and of the greatest extent. A small stream, rising from springs 
a little to the eastward, flows across it through a narrow valley 
filled with a compost washed down by the rains. The enclosing 
stockade is formed of pine logs, twenty feet in length, and about 
eight inches in diameter, sunk five feet in the ground, and placed 
close together. This is again surrounded by two successive, and 
precisely similar, palisades — a portion of the last of which is 
gone. It seems never to have been completed. The two inner 
walls remain entire. Within the interior space, at the distance 
of about seventeen feet from the stockade, runs the famous dead- 
line, marked by small posts set in the ground, and a slight strip 
of pine board nailed on the tops of them. The gates, of which 
there are two, situated on the west side, were continuations of 
the stockade, enclosing spaces of thirt}- feet square, more or less, 
with massive doors at either end. They were arranged and 
worked on the principle of canal locks. Upon the inner stockade 
were fifty-two sentry boxes, raised above the tops of the palisades, 
and accessible to the guard by ladders. In these stood fifty-two 
guards, with loaded arms, so near that the}' could converse with 
each other. In addition to these, seven forts mounted with field 
artillery, commanded the fatal space and its masses of perishing 
men. 

"Under the most favorable circumstances, and best possible 
management, the supply of water would have been insufficient 
for half the number of persons who had to use it. The existing 
arrangements must have aggravated the evil to the utmost extent. 
The sole establishments for cooking and baking were placed on 
the bank of the stream immediately above, and between the two 
inner lines of palisades. The grease and refuse from them were 
found adhering to the banks at the time of our visit. The guards, 



1IIS'I()K\ OK IM.\M<)1> III. 





AnJersDinille Stock:iJe, Stuiwiiii; tlie DeaJ Line 



THE Civil. WAR. 1 I 1 

to the number of about 3,600, were principal!) encamped on the 
upper part of the stream, and when the lieavy rains wabhed 
down the hill sides, covered with 80,000 human beings, and the 
outlet below failed to discharge the flood which backed and tilled 
the valley, the water must have become so foul and loathsome, 
that every statement I have seen of its oflensiveness must be con- 
sidered as falling short of the reality. And yet, within rifle-shot 
of the prison, there flowed a stream fifteen feet wide and three 
feet deep, of pure, delicious water. Had the prison been placed 
so as to include a section of the 'Sweet Water Creek,' the 
inmates might have drank and bathed to their hearts' content. 

" The cemetery, around which the chief interest must 
gather, is distant about 300 yards from the stockade in a north- 
westerly direction. The graves, placed side by side in clote 
continuous rows, cover nine acres, divided into three unec|ual 
lots by two roads which intersect each other nearly at right 
angles. The fourth space is still unoccupied, except by a few 
graves of ' Confederate' soldiers. 

"No human bodies were found exposed, and none were 
removed. The place was found in much better condition than 
had been anticipated, owing to the excellent measures taken by 
Major-General Wilson, commanding at Macon, and a humane 
public-spirited citizen of Fort Valley, Georgia — a Mr, Griffin, 
who, in passing on the railroad, was informed by one of the 
ever-faithiul negroes, that the bodies were becoming exposed, 
and were rooted up by animals. Having verified this statement, 
he collected a few negroes, sank the exposed bodies, and covered 
them to a proper depth. He then reported the facts to General 
Wilson, and requested authority to take steps for protecting the 
grounds. That patriotic officer visited Andersonville in person, 
appointed Mr. Griffin temporary superintendent, and gave him 
such limited facilities as could be furnished in that destitute 
countrv. It was determined to inclose a square of fifty acies; 
and, at the time of our arrival, the fence was nearly one-third 
built — from old lumber foimd about the place. He had also 
erected a brick kiln, and was manufacturing brick for drains to 
conduct the water away from the graves, and protect and 
strengthen the soil against the action of heavv rains. We found 
Mr. Griffin with a force of about twenty negroes and a few 
mules, at work on the grounds. I have understood that that 
gentleman furnished the labor at his own cost, while General 
W^ilson issued the necessary rations. 

" The part performed by our party was to take up and carry 
forward the work so well commenced. Additional force was 
obtained from the military commandant at Macon for completing 
the enclosure and erecting the head-boards. It seems tbat the 
dead had been buried by Union prisoners, paroled from the 
stockade and hospital for that purpose. Successive trenches, 
capable of containing from 100 to 150 bodies each, thickly set 
with little posts or boards, with numbers in regular order carved 
upon them, told to the astonished and tear-dimmed eye the sad 
storv of buried treasures. It was only necessary to compare the 



HIS'IOKV OF I'l.^'.MOlTlH. 




The Battle of Winchester. 



li 




•■> . ,«,:&i 



SJIilJ 



Union BreastwDrUs at Cold Harbor. 



THE CniL WAR. I I3 

number upon each post or board with that which stands opposite 
the name on the register, and replace the whole with a more 
substantial, uniform and comely tablet, bearing not only the 
original number, but the name, company and regiment, and date 
of death of the soldier who slept beneath. 

"I have been repeatedly assured by prisoners that great care 
was taken at the time by the men to whom fell the sad task of 
originally marking this astonishing number of graves, to perform 
the work with faitlifulness and accuracy. If it shall prove that 
the work performed by those who followed, under circumstances 
so much more favorable, was executed with less faithfulness and 
accuracy than the former, it will be a subject of much regret — 
but fortunately not yet beyond the possibility of correction. 
The number of graves marked is 12,930. The original records, 
captured by General Wilson, furnished about 10,500; but as one 
book ot the record had not been secured, over 2,000 names were 
supplied from a copy (of his own record) made by Mr. Atwater 
in the Andersonville prison, and brought by him to Annapolis 
on his return with the paroled prisoners. 

" Interspersed throughout this Death Register were 400 
numbers against which stood onlv the dark word 'unknown.' 
So, scattered among the thickly designated graves, stand 400 
tablets, bearing only the number and the touching inscription 
' Unknown Union Soldier.' 

"Substantially, nothing was attempted beyond enclosing 
the grounds, identifying and marking the graves, placing some 
appropriate mottoes at the gates and along the spaces designed 
for walks, and erecting a flagstatl'in the center of the cemetery. 
The work was completed on the 17th of August, and the party 
took the route homeward by wav of Chattanooga, Nashville, and 
Cincinnati, arriving at Washington on the morning of August 
24th. 

'• For the record of your dead, you are indebted to the fore- 
thought, courage, and perseverance of Doi'ence Atwater, a voung 
man not yet twenty-one years of age ; an orphan ; four years a 
soldier; one-tenth part of his whole life a prisoner, with broken 
health and ruined hopes, he seeks to present to your acceptance 
the sad gift he has in store for you ; and, grateful for the oppor- 
tunity, I hasten to place beside it this humble report, whose only 
merit is its truthfulness, and beg you to accept it in tlie spirit of 
kindness in which it is offered." 



COMPLETE KOSTER OF THE SOEDIERS ENLISTING FROM OR 
BELONGING TO PLYMOUTH. 

Erastus Blakeslee, enlisted October 9, 1861, Co. A, 1st Regt., C. V. Conir.-.issioned 
2d Lieutenant Co. A, October 18, 1861 (not mustered). Mustered Adjutant. 
Promoted Captain Co. A, March 28, 1862. Promoted from Captain Co. A to 
Major, December 18, 1863. Lieutenant-ColoneL May 31, 1864. Wounded June 
1, 1864, Ashland, Va. Promoted Colonel, June 6, 1864. Discharged October 26, 
1864, time expired. Promotsd Brigadier-General, by brevet, March 13, 1865. 



11^ HISTORY OV PLYMOUTH. 

Brayton Ives, enlisted June 21, 1861, Co. F, 5th Regt. Promoted from Adjutant, 
September 25, 1861. Appointed A. A. G., U. S. Vols., May 14, 1862. Promoted 
Lieutenant-Colonel, November 1, 1864. Colonel, January 17, 1865. Brigadier- 
General, by brevet, March 13, 1865. Mustered out, Augu.st 2, 1865. 

Augustus H. Fenn, enlisted July 16, 1862. Promoted Captain Co. C, from 1st Lieu- 
tenant Co. K, April 13, 1864. Wounded October 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, Va. 
Promoted Major 2d Regt., Heavy Artillery, January 20, 1865. Lieutenant- 
Colonel, by brevet, April 6, 1865. Mustered out. 

William B. Ells, enlisted May 23, 1861. Promoted 2d Lieutenant Co. L, August 26, 
1862. Captain Co. D. 2d Regt., C. V., H. A., September 29, 1862. Promoted 
Major, March 7, 1864. Wounded, June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, Va. Discharged. 
December 24, 1864. 

Eugene Atwater, enlisted October 23, 1861, Meriden, private 1st Light Battery. 
Served in 10th Army Corps at Port Royal, S. C, and on the James until mus- 
tered out in 1864. Commissioned 1st Lieutenant 6th C. V. Enlisted December 
2, 1864, 1st C. v.. Light Bat. Mustered 1st Lieutenant, Co. E, 6th Regt. Pro- 
moted Captain, February 13, 1865. Mustered out, August 21, 1865. 

Zelotes P. Granniss, enlisted August 11, 1862, Co. D, 2d Regt., H. A. Mustered 
Private. Promoted Corporal, March 1, 1865. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

John C. Chase, enlisted August 15, 1862. Mustered Private. Promoted Corporal, 
July 1, 1864. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Joseph B. Fenn, enlisted July 25, 1862, Co. D, 2d Regt., H. A. Mustered Private. 
Promoted Corporal, November 8, 1862. Sergeant, January 10, 1864. 1st Ser- 
geant, March 30, 1864. 2d Lieutenant, Co. B, October 5th, 1864. Promoted 1st 
Lieutenant, December 20, 1864. Mustered out, August 18, 1865. 

Robert A. Potter, enlisted July 25, 1862, Co. D, C. V., H. A. Promoted 1st Lieu- 
tenant, Co. A, August 24, 1863. Mustered out, August 18, 1865. 

Franklin J. Candee, enlisted August 15, 1862, Co. D. Promoted 1st Lieutenant, Co. 
H, April 13, 1864. Killed, September 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. 

Horace Hubbard, enlisted August 11, 1862, Co. D. Promoted 2d Lieutenant, Co. H. 
March 5, 1864. Killed, September 14, 1864, Winchester, Va. 

Lewis W. Munger, enlisted July 22, 1862, Co. D, 2d H. A. Promoted 1st Lieu- 
tenant, Co. E, February 19, 1865. Captain, by brevet, April 2, 1865. Mustered 
out, August 18, 1865. 

Thomas D. Bradstreet, enlisted August 12, 1862, Co. D. Discharged. March 9. 1863. 

Amzi P. Clark, enlisted August 14, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, October 19, 1864, Cedar 
Creek. Promoted 2d Lieutenant, Co. B, February 23, 1865. 

David B. Wooster, enlisted August 13, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Quartermaster- 
Sergeant, March 7, 1864. Wounded, June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor. Killed, Sep- 
tember 22, 1864, Fisher's Hill, Va. 

Ira H. Stoughton, enlisted July 23, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, September 19, 1864, 
Winchester, Va. Promoted Quartermaster-Sergeant, March 1, 1865. Dis- 
charged, July 7, 1865. 

Seeley S. Morse, enlisted January 4, 1864, Co D. Wounded, September 19, 1864, 
Winchester, Va. Promoted Quartermaster -Sergeant, July 9.1865. Mustered 
out, August 18, 1865. 

Henry N. Bushnell, enlisted July 21, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, October 19, 1864, 
Cedar Creek, Va. Promoted Sergeant, March 1, 1865. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Hiram B. Castle, enlisted January 1.5, 1864, Co. D. Promoted Sergeant, July 9, 1865. 
Mustered out, August 18, 1865. 

Charles I. Hough, enlisted July 23, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Sergeant. September 
19, 1864. Discharged, July 7, 186,5. 

Ralph W. Munson, enlisted August 11, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Sergeant, March 1, 
1865. Discharged, July 7. 1865. 

Daniel O. Purcell, enlisted August 12, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Sergeant, September 
19, 1864. Discharged, July 7. 1865. 

Salmon B. Smith, enlisted .\ugust 6, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Sergeant, September 
13,1863. Died, August 11, 1864. 

Kmery B. Taylor, enlisted August 12, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, September 19, 1864, 
Winchester, Va. Promoted Sergeant, September 13, 1864. Discharged, May 
18. 1865. 

George H. Bates, enlisted July 22, 1862. Wounded, September 19, 1864. Winchester,. 
Va. Promoted Corporal. January 13, 1865. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 



ROSTER OF SOLDIERS. 



^^ 



Wallace E. Beach, enlisted July 22, 1862, Co. D. Woundpd, June 1, 1864, Cold Har- 
bor, Va. Promoted Corporal, March 1, 1865. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Charles E. Guernsey, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Corporal, January 
10, 1864. Wounded, June 22, 1864, Petersburg, Va. Died, June 28, 1864. 

William W. Johnson, enlisted Corporal, August 7, 1862, Co. D. Died, January 30, 1863. 

Henry Tolles, enlisted August 12, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, October 19, 1864, Cedar 
Creek, Va. Promoted Corporal, January 13, 1865. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

William Weston, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Corporal, January 13, 
1865. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

William Wright, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. D. Promoted Corporal, July 1. 1864. 
Killed. October 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, Va. 

Henry Pond, enlisted wagoner, August 8, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Henry C. Barnum, enlisted July 24, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, September 19, 1884. 

George L. Beach, enlisted August 15, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, June 1, Cold Harbor, 
Va. Died, June 14, 1864. 

James A. Beach, enlisted August 15, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, June 3, 1865. 

Charles F. Brown, enlisted January 4, 1864, Co. D. Discharged June 15, 1865. 

William J. P. Buck, enlisted January 4, 1864, Co. D. Mustered out, August 18, 186-5. 

James H. Cable, enlisted August 9, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Martin H. Camp, enlisted August 6, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Charles G. Cleveland, enlisted August 8, 1862, Co. D. Died, January 20, 1863. 

Hiram T. Coley, enlisted July 25, 1862, Co. D. Killed, September 19, 1864, Win- 
chester, Va. 

George T. Cook, enlisted August 8, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Benjamin Filley, enlisted August 11, 1862, Co. D. Captured, June 22, 1864, Peters- 
burg, Va. Died, October 31, 1864, Florence, S. C. 

Joseph Gooley, enlisted August 6, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

John Grieder, enlisted July 29, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, June 20, 1864, Petersburg, 
Va. Died, July 31, 1864. 

Jonathan Hall, enlisted January 4, 1864, Co. D. Wounded, June 1, 1864, Cold 
Harbor, Va. Discharged, April 30, 1865. 

Samuel Hine, enlisted February 12, 1864, Co. D. Mustered out, August 18, 1865. 

Albert J. Hotchkiss, enlisted August 11, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Swift McG. Hunter, enlisted July 17, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, September 22, 1864, 
Fisher's Hill, Va. Discharged, May 30, 1865. 

William Lindley, enlisted July 26, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, disabilities, April 11, 
1863. 

William H. Lindley, enlisted January 22. 1864, Co. D. Wounded, October 19. 1864, 
Cedar Creek, Va. Discharged, August 28, 1865. 

Thomas Mann, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, June 3, 1864, Cold 
Harbor. Died, June 8, 1864. 

John McFadden, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. D. Transferred to Co. M, July 20. 
1865. Mustered out, August 18, 1865. 

John M. Moseley, enlisted January 22, 1864, Co. D. Captured, July 21, 1864, 
Snicker's Gap, Va. Paroled, October 17, 1864. Mustered out, August 18, 1865. 

Henry Munger, enlisted February 12, 1864, Co. D. Discharged, June 13, 1865. 

Jerome Munger, enlisted August 8, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

John Murphy, Jr., enlisted August 16, 1862, Co. D. Killed June ], 1864, Cold 
Harbor. 

Walter Gates, enlisted January 4, 1864, Co. D. Captured October 19, 1864, Cedar 
Creek, Va. Discharged, July 3, 1865. 

George L. Penfield, enlisted August 13, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 12, 1865. 

Horatio G. Perkins, enlisted August 6, 1862, Co. D. Died, January 9, 1865. 

Justin O. Stoughton, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. D. Wounded, June 1, 1864, Cold 
Harbor, Va. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

James Straun, enlisted August 14, 1862, Co. D. Captured, June 1, 1864, Cold Har- 
bor, Va. Died, August 2. 1864, Andersonville, Ga. 

Charles W. Talcott, enlisted August 8, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Samuel R. Terrell, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. D. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 

Burritt H. Tolles, enlisted August 12, 1862, Co. D. Died, January 12, 1863. 

Josiah J. Wadsworth, enlisted August 15, 1862, Co. D. Died, September 19, 1863. 

Matthias Walter, enlisted August 13, 1862. Wounded, June 20, 1864, Petersburg, 
Va. Discharged, June 13, 1865. 



Il6 HIS'IOKV OF PLYMOUril. 

Charles R. Warner, enlisted August 6. 1862. Killed, October 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, 

Va. 
Hermon E. Bonnay, enlisted December 24, 1863, Co. G, '2d H. A. Died, June 28, 1864. 
Quincey Thayer, enlisted February 5, 1864, Co. G, 2d H. A. Discharged, disabilities, 

July 31, 1865. 
Charles V. Flandreau, enlisted February 12, Co. H, 2d II. A. Mustered out, 

August 18, 1865. 
John F. Harrigan, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. I, 2d H. A. Wounded, September 

19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Promoted Corporal, March 5, 1865. Discharged, 

July 7, 1865. 
William O'Brien, enlisted July 28, 1862, Co. I, 2d H. A. Wounded, September 22, 

1864, Fisher's Hill, Va. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 
Arthur Lockwood, enlisted July 23, 1862, Co. K, 2d H. A. Promoted Sergeant, 

April 18, 1864. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 
George A. Hoyt, Jr., enlisted musician, August 14, 1862, Co. K, 2d H. A. Died, 

June 6, 1863. 
Miner C. Wedge, enlisted wagoner, August 1, 1862, Co. K, 2d H. A. Discharged, 

August 13, 1863. 
Joseph E. Camp, enlisted December 24, 1863, Co. K, 2d H. A. Missing in action, 

June 1, 1864, Cold Harbor, probably killed. 
Wesley Glover, enlisted August 10, 1862, Co. K, 2d H. A. Died, December 28, 1862. 
Englebert Hermon, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. K, 2d H. A. Wounded, October 19, 

1864, Cedar Creek, Va. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 
Eben Norton, enlisted July 29, 1862, Co. K, 2d H. A. Died June 12, 1864. 
Asa Pettis, enlisted August 6, 1862, Co. K, 2d H. A. Discharged, July 7, 1865. 
John Mclntyre, enlisted February 8, 1864, Co, L, 2d H. A. Deserted, February 22, 

1864. 
George Norman, enlisted February 6, 1864, Co. L, 2d H. A. Discharged, June 23, 

1865. 
Cornelius L. Everett, enlisted February 13, 1864, Co. 31, 2d H. A. Discharged, 

June 8, 1865. 
George H. Couch, enlisted February 13, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Promoted Coiporal, 

March 19, 1864. Discharged, June 22, 1865. 
Edward Crosby, enlisted February 10, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Discharged, June 13, 

1865. 
John Darkins, enlisted February 11, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, July 15, 1864. 
John Doris, enlisted February 10, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, November 9, 1864. 
James Devine, enlisted February 11, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, July 11, 1864. 
William Erwin, enlisted February 11, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Discharged, disabili- 
ties. May 30, 1865. 
Arthur Kemp, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A, Deserted, March 27, 1864. 
Alfred Dickinson, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, February 

21, 1864. 
John King, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, June 2, 1864. 
John Larkins, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted May 17, 1864. 
Charles Marsh, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, May 17, 1864. 
John McLaughlin, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, May 17, 

1864. 
Abner W. Scott, enlisted February 12, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Killed, September 19, 

1864, Winchester, Va. 
Jacob Smith, enlisted February 9,1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, February 21, 1864. 
George Pennington, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, March 1, 

1864. 
George Thompson, enlisted F'ebruary 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. \. Deserted, July 1,5, 

1864. 
William Potter, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M,2d H. A. Deserted, March 20, 1864. 
Peter Wood, enlisted February 10, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Wounded, October 19, 

1864, Cedar Creek, Va. Discharged, June 10, 1865. 
James C. Williams, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, February 

21, 1864, 
John T. Kline, enlisted August 20, 1863. Co. B, 5th Infantry. Wounded, June 16, 
1864, Pine Mountain, Ga. Promoted Corporal, May 20, 1865. Mustered out, 
July 19, 1865. 



HOSTKK OK SOLDIEKS. llj 

James Winslow, enlisted February 8, 1864, Co. M, 2d H. A. Deserted, March 8, 1864. 
Arthur Lannon, enlisted February 6, 1864. Discharged, disabilities, May 23, 1864. 
William Frise, enlisted August 20, 1862, Co. B, 5th Infantry. Deserted, September 

29, 1863. 
Charles Stepel, enlisted August 18, 1863. Co. B, 5th Infantry. Deserted, September 

28, 1863. 
Patrick Fehan, enlisted August 25, 1863, Co. F, 20th C. V. Discharged, disabilities, 

July 11, 1865. 
William Bridgewater, enlisted August 25, 1863, Co. D, 5th Infantry. Mustered out, 

July 19, 1865. 
James Mooney, enlisted August 25, 1863, Co. D, 5th Infantry. Mustered out, July 

19, 1865. 
Charles Mortimer, enlisted August 26, 1863, Co. D, 5th Infantry. Mustered out, 

July 19, 1865. 
Henry Palmer, enlisted August 27, 1863, Co. D, 5th Infantry. Promoted Corporal, 

September 1, 1864. Died, December 29, 1864. 
John Keene, enlisted August 27, 1863, Co. E, 5th Infantry. Deserted, May 23, 1865. 
Oscar Knickerbocker, enlisted August 27, 1868, Co. E, 5th Infantry. Deserted, 

September 28, 1863. 
James Hoyle, enlisted August 26, 1863, Co. I, 5th Infantry. Missing, no record. 
John Jones, enlisted August 27, 1863. Co. I, 5th Infantry. Wounded, May 15, 1864, 

Resaca, Ga. Mustered out, July 19, 1865. 
Peter Marens, enlisted August 28, 1863, Co. G, 5th Infantry. Deserted, October 2, 

1863. 
Patrick Kelly, enlisted August 28, 1863, Co. H, .5th Infantry. Wounded, May 15, 

1864, Resaca, Ga. Deserted, December 8, 1864. 
William McLannan, enlisted August 28, 1863. Mustered out, July 19, 1865. 
Lewis W. Hotch, enlisted June 30, 1861, Co. I, 1st H. A. Discharged, disabilities, 

November 28, 1861. 
William Knapp, enlisted July 25, 1863, Co. H, 20th C. V. Discharged, July 19, 1865. 
Moritz Lowenthal, enlisted August 22, 1864, Co. H, 20th C. V. Mustered out, July 

19, 1865. 
Michael Burke, enlisted November 16, 1864, Co. D, 6th Infantry. Mustered out, 

August 21, 1865. 
Edwin Post, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. A, 1st Artillery. Promoted Captain, 9th 

Regt., U. S. C. I., November 10, 1862. Killed, August 16, 1864, Deep Bottom, Va. 
William B. Atwood, enlisted May 23, 1861. Promoted Captain, Co. B, 1st Artillery, 

May 24, 1865. Mustered out, September 25, 1865. 
Christian Peterson, enlisted December 13, 1864, Co. E, 1st Artillery. Mustered out, 

September 25, 1865. 
Henry Franksy, enlisted December 6, 1864, Co. F, 1st Artillery. Deserted, July 30, 

1865. 
George Lebel, enlisted December 6, Co. F, 1st Artillery. Deserted, July 28, 1865. 
Fritz Meyer, enlisted December 6, Co. F, 1st Artillery. Mustered out, September 

25, 1865. 
Frederick L. Pond, enlisted May 22, 1861, Co. G, 1st Artillery. Promoted 2d Lieu- 
tenant, February 20, 1863. Discharged, October 19, 1864. 
Mark Alyword, enlisted November 21, 1864, Co. G, 1st Artillery. Mustered out, 

September 25, 1865. 
Albert Bunnell, enlisted May 22, 1861, Co. G, 1st Artillery. Discharged, May 21, 

1864, time expired. 
Hubert C. Pond, enlisted December 1, 1863, Co. H, 1st Artillery. Mustered out, 

September 25, 1865. 
Andrew Terry, enlisted September 21, 1861, Co I, 1st Artillery. Promoted Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, December 23, 1861. Resigned, March 28, 1862. 
Norman F. Stoughton, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Promoted 1st 

Sergeant, June 26, 1865. Mustered out, September 25, 1865. 
Wakeman R. Mott, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. 1, 1st Artillery. Promoted Sergeant, 

May 5, 1863. Discharged, May 22, 1864, time expired. 
George D. Oliver, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Promoted Sergeant, 

November 14, 1864. Discharged, May 22, 1864, time expired. 
Edward H. Atkins, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Promoted Corporal, 

December 1. 1863. Discharged, May 22, 1864, time expired. 



Il8 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

Thomas H. McKinley, enlisted November 1, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Promoted 
2d Lieutenant. Co. B, 29th C. V., January 1, 1864. Wounded, September 29, 
1864, Richmond, Va. Died, January 3, 1865. 

Lenthel Nichols, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. 1, 1st Artillery. Discharged, disabilities, 
June 10, 1862. 

Daniel Schatzman, enlisted May 23. 1861, Co. 1, 1st Artillery. Promoted Corporal, 
June 17, 1863. Discharged, May 22, 1864, time expired. 

William Shadwell, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Discharged, May 22, 
1864, time expired. 

John L. Williams, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Detailed wagoner, 
January 25, 1864. Discharged, May 22, 1864, time expired. 

Frederick L. Grant, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Died, December 29, 
1861. 

Edmund John, enlisted May 23. 1861, Co. T, 1st .\rtillery. Discharged, disabilities, 
June 29, 1863. 

John Lawton, enlisted May 18, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Discharged, May 27, 1863. 

Riley Marsh, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Mustered out. September 
25, 1865. 

Henry Mather, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Killed. June 20, 1862, 
Gaines' Mills, Va. 

Patrick McElhone, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Discharged, May 22, 
1864, time expired. 

Henry F. Michael, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Mustered out, Sep- 
tember 2.5, 1865. 

Hermon D. Saul, enlisted May 16, 1861, Co. I, 1st .\rtillery. Discharged, disabilities. 
May 6. 1862. 

Alexis J. Seymour, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. 1, 1st Artillery. Died, January 1, 1864. 

John Simpson, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Discharged, May 22, 1864, 
time expired. 

Alfred B. Smith, enlisted .May 23. 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Discharged, May 22, 
1864. time expired. 

Edward P.Smith, enlisted May 23, 1861, C^o. 1, 1st Artillery. Died. December 10, 
1861. 

Oliver B. Welton, enlisted March 12, 1862, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Discharged, .May 10, 
1865. 

George Rogers, enlisted August 17, 1864, Co, K, 1st Artillery. Mustered out, Sep- 
tember 25, 1865. 

James J. Averill, enlisted August 19, 1862, hospital steward, 2d Regt., H. A. Dis- 
charged. July 7, 1865. 

Arthur G. Kellogg, enlisted July 16. 1862, Co. C, 2d Artillery. Died, November 1, 
1862. 

William E. McKee, enlisted August 25, 1862, Co. C, 2d Artillery. Discharged, dis- 
abilities, June 24, 1865. 

John Wilson 2d, enlisted August 20, 1863. Co. D. 5th Infantry. Deserted, Septem- 
ber 9, 1863. 

George W. Herly, enlisted February 20, 1864, Co. H, 5th Infantry. Died. August 7, 
1864. 

Aaron C. Sanford, enlisted August 23, 1861, Co. B, 6th Infantry. Wounded, August 
16, 1864, Deep Run, Va. Discharged, disabilities, April 27, 1865. 

Ciaius Fenn, enlisted August 23, 1861, Co. E, 6th Infantry. Discharged, September 
12, 1864, time expired. 

Edward C. Blakeslee, enlisted August 24, 1861, Co. A, 7th Infantry. Wounded, 
July 11, 1863, Ft. Wagner, S. C. Died, August 8, 1863. 

Charles Poh, enlisted November 30, 1864, Co. G, 7th Infantry. Discharged, August 
18, 1865. 

Nelson M. Stephen, enlisted February 12, Co. H, 8th Infantry. Promoted 1st Ser- 
geant, .lanuary 1, 1865. Mustered out, December 12, 1865. 

William Garvin, enlisted February 24, 1864, Co. H, 8th Infantry. Transferred to 
U. S. N., May 4, 1864. Served on U. S. S. " Agawam." Discharged, January 29, 
1866. 

Charles H. Dingwell, enlisted June 11, 1862. Transferred to U. S. N., May 4, 1864, 
Served on U. S. S. "Minnesota" and -'Vandalia." Transferred to receiving 
ship " Ohio," February 10, 1865. 



ROSTER OF SOLDIERS. II9 

Marion Alfonse, enlisted November 18. 1864, Co. K, 8th Infantry. Mustered out, 

December 12, 1865. 
Garry T. Scott, enlisted August 18, 1861, 9th Regt. Promoted Captain, December 

15, 1864. Mustered out, August 3, 1865. 

John B. Green, enlisted October 1, 1861, Co. D,9th Infantry. Discharged, August 
17, 1862. 

Charles W. Alcott, enlisted August 17, 1861, Co. I, 9th C. V. Promoted 1st Ser- 
geant. Mustered out, August 3, 1865. 

Dvvight H. Cowles, enlisted August 30, 1861, Co. I, 9th C. V. Promoted Corporal 
February 21, 1863. Discharged, October 26, 1864, time expired. 

Shelton Smith, enlisted August 17, 1861, Co. I, 9th Infantry. Discharged, Mi^y 14, 
1863. 

John Allen, enlisted August 17, 1861, Co. I, 9th Infantry. Captured, June 27, 1864, 
Ream's Station, Va. Died, September 27, 1864, Andersonville, Ga. 

Edward I. Johnson, enlisted October 4, 1861, Co. I, 9th Infantry. Discharged, July 

3. 1863. 

Augustus S. Smith, enlisted October 11, 1861, Co. I, 9th Infantry. Wounded, Sep- 
tember 19, Winchester, Va. Mustered out, August 3, 1865. 
John Conklin, enlisted December 13, 1864, Co. H, 10th Infantry. Deserted, April 

16, 1865. 

William House, enlisted November 21, 1864. Co. H, 10th Infantry. Deserted, 

August 3, 1865. 
Charles A. Lehman, mustered in November 21, 1864, Co. A, 10th Infantry. Mus- 
tered out, August 25, 1865. 
Luther Camp, enlisted September 24, 1861, Co. C, 10th Infantry. Died, February 

7, 1865. 
Edwin Perkins, enlisted September 20, 1861, Co. C, 10th Infantry. Discharged, 

October 7, 1864, time expired. 
Jesse P. Skinner, enlisted October 3, 1861, Co. C, 10th Infantry. Died, November 

6, 1862. 
Theodore Bleacher, enlisted November 4, 1863, Co. C, 10th Infantry. Discharged 

June 20, 1865. 
Francis Peck, enlisted November 18, 1864, Co. C, 10th Infantry. Deserted, August 

5, 1865. 
Jacob Miller, enlisted November 21, 1864, Co. H, 10th Infantry. Deserted, January 

4. 1865. 

Bernard Bryant, enlisted December 8, 1864, Co. K, 10th Infantry. Deserted, April 

14, 1865. 
Anthony Burke, enlisted November 18, 1864, Co. K, 10th Infantry. Deserted, 

August 7, 1865. 
Patrick Quinn, enlisted December 8, 1864, Co. G, 10th Infantry. Deserted, May 22, 

1865. 
Joseph R. Bassett, enlisted November 21, 1864, Co. B, 11th C. V. Captured, May 16, 

1864, Drury's Bluff, Va. Died, January 6, 1865, Salisbury, N. C. 
William Taylor, enlisted November 21, 1864, Co. D, 11th C. V. Deserted, February 

20, 1865. 
Harvey Homer, enlisted February 2, 1864, Co. G. 11th C. V. Wounded, May 1, 1864. 

Mustered out, December 21, 1865. 
Edward Johnson, enlisted February 20, 1864, Co. G, 11th C. V. Captured, May 16, 

1864, Drury's Bluff, Va. Mustered out, June 19, 1865. 
William Lacy, enlisted February 20, 1864, Co. G, 11th C. V. Wounded, May 9, 1864, 

Swift's Creek, Va. Promoted Sergeant, September 1, 1865. Mustered out, 

December 21, 1865. 
Nicholas Doyle, enlisted November 25, 1864, Co. E, 11th C. V. Deserted, January 

27, 1865. 
Hiram Griggs, enlisted April 21, 1865, Co. A, 3d Regt. Promoted 2d Lieutenant, 

Co. C, 75th Regt., U. S. C. I., April 4, 1863. 
John C. Ryan, enlisted December 22, 1861, Co. A, 13th C. V. Discharged, May 24, 

1862. 
Friend Sutliffe, enlisted December 22, 1861, Co. A, 13th C. V. Died, April 11, 1866, 

Alexandria, Va. 
Edward R. Weed, enlisted December 22. 1861, Co. A, 13th C. V. Died, May 27, 1863, 

New Orleans. La. 



I20 lIISrOKV OF PLYMOUTH. 

George Wright, enlisted December 30, 1861, Co. A. 13th C. V. Discharged, disabil- 
ities, January 27, 1863. 

M. L. Andrews, enlisted January 8, 1862, Co. H, 13th C. V. Discharged, disabilities, 
May 30, 1862. 

Philo Andrews, enlisted December 21, 1862, Co. H, 13th C. V. Wounded, Septem- 
ber 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Died, December 23, 1864. 

Wallace W. Smith, enlisted December 6. 1861, Co. I, 13th C. V. Wounded and 
captured, September 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Discharged, September 7, 1865. 

John Tracy, enlisted December 17, 1861, Co. K, 13th C. V. Deserted, August 27, 1864. 

Charles G. Adams, enlisted August 2, 1864, Co. A, 14th C. V. Wounded, August 25, 
1864, Ream's Station, Va. Deserted, November 16, 1864. 

Bernard McGrevor, enlisted December 5, 1864, Co. B, 14th C. V. Deserted. August 
21, 1865. 

William McGrath, enlisted August 5, 1863, Co. D, 14th C. V. Deserted, August 22, 
1863. 

Charles Williams, enlisted September 16, 1863, Co. D, 14th C. V. Wounded, Feb- 
ruary 6, 1864, Morton's Ford, Va., and May 19, 1864, Cassville, Ga. Died, May 
28, 1864. 

John Cullon, enlisted July 25, 1863, Co. I, 14th C. V. Deserted, March 23, 1864. 

Michael O'Connor, enlisted July 2.3, 1864, Co. 1, 14th C. V. Deserted, August 14, 1864. 

Charles McRay, enlisted August 6, 1864, Co. I, 14th C. V. Deserted, August 14, 1864. 

Edward H. Mix, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. C. 1st Artillery. Promoted Captain Co. 
B, 16th C. V. Drowned, March 8, 1864, Albemarle Sound, N. C. 

William Allen, enlisted August 26, 1863, Co. C, 20th C. V. Deserted, November 15, 
1864. 

James Anderson, enlisted August 27, 1863, Co. E, 20th C. V. Deserted, October 2, 
1863. 

Theodore Mansfield, enlisted August 25, 1863, Co. H, 20th C. V. Deserted, October 
11, 1863. 

Augustus Fisher, enlisted August 26, 1863, Co. K, 20th C. V. Deserted, September 
14, 1863. 

John Lewis, enlisted August 26, 1863, Co. K, 20th C V. Deserted, August 16, 1864. 

William Webber, enlisted August 23, 1863, Co. K, 20th C. V. Deserted, September 
14, 1863. 

James Averill, enlisted October 10, 1862, Chaplain 23d C. V. Infantry. Died, June 
11, 1863. 

James A. Williams, enlisted December 30, 1863, Co. H, 29th C. V. (col.) Discharged, 
disabilities, July 3, 1865. 

John F. Brown, enlisted February 11, 1864, Co. D, 31st Regt., U. S. C. I. Deserted, 
March 30, 1864. 

Jesse King, enlisted February 11, 1864, Co. D, 31st Regt., U. S. C. I. Deserted, Feb- 
ruary 29, 1864. 

Thomas Marts, enlisted February 9, 1864, Co. D, 31st Regt., U. S. C. I. Mustered 
out, November 7, 1865, 

Robert Short, enlisted February 19, 1864, Co, D. 31st Regt., U. S. C. I. Mustered 
out, November 7, 1865. 

James E. Tunnell, enlisted February 8, 1864, Co. D, 31st Regt., U. S C. I. Deserted, 
April 12, 1864. 

William B. Piatt, enlisted December 14. 1861, musician, 14th Infantry, Regular 
Army. Died, November 27, 1863. 

Egbert S. Bronson, mustered in, January 7, 1865, Co. C, 2d Colored Infantry. Dis- 
charged, May 10, 1865. 

Wallace A. Bishop, enlisted August 21, 1861, 1st Squadron C. V. Cavalry. Pro- 
moted Sergeant, July 1, 1862. Died, November 28, 1862. 

Dorence Atwater, enlisted August 19, 1861, 1st Squadron, C. V. Cavalry. Captured, 
July 6. 1863, Hagerstown, Md. Exchanged, February 27, 1865. Discharged, 
April 21, 1865. 

Charles H.Page, enlisted December 5,1861, Co. A, 1st Cavalry. Promoted Quarter- 
master-Sergeant, June 1, 1865. Mustered out, August 2, 1865. 

Edwin A. French, enlisted October 11, 1861, Co. A, 1st Cavalry. Promoted Ser- 
geant, September 1, 1864. Mustered out, August 2, 1865. 

William G. Renfree, enlisted October 11, 1861, Co. A, 1st Cavalry. Promoted Ser- 
geant, September 1, 1864. Mustered out, August 2, 1865. 



ROSIKlt OF SOI-DIEKS. 121 

Levi H. Dunbar, enlisted October 21, 1861, Co. A, 1st Cavalry. Discharged, disabil- 
ities, March 17, 1862. 

Samuel W. Bevan.s, enlisted November 17. 1861, Co. D, 1st Cavalry. Discharged, 
December 10, 1862. 

Warren Briggs, enlisted November 17, 1861, Co. D, 1st Cavalry. Discharged, dis- 
abilities, July 25, 1862. 

Orville Bryant, enlisted November 17, 1861, Co. D, 1st Cavalry. Deserted, March 

1, 1863. 

Ira Hugh, enlisted November 24, 1863, Co. E, 1st Cavalry. Died, April 6, 186.5. 

Peter Jones, enlisted August 18, 1864, Co. G, 1st Cavalry. Promoted Sergeant, 
January 11, 1865. Mustered out, August 2, 1865. 

Gilbert C. Royce, enlisted January 4, 1864, Co. K, 1st Cavalry. Captured, Novem- 
ber 12, 1864, Cedar Creek. Paroled, February 5, 1865. Mustered out, August 

2. 1865. 

Henry Bradley, enlisted December 21, 1863. Promoted Sergeant, February 1, 1864, 
(Jo. M, 1st Cavalry. Accidentally wounded, June 10, 1864, Old Church, Va. 
Discharged, disabilities, January 10, 1865. 

Lewis Mollet, enlisted July 28, 1862, 2d Light Battery. Deserted, March 15, 1864. 

William B. Atwood, enlisted May 23, 1861. Promoted Lieutenant, Co. B, 1st 
Artillery, May 24, 1865. Mustered out, September 25, 1865. 

Hobart D. Bishop, mustered January 5, 1864, Co. I, 1st Cavalry. Died, June 1, 1865. 

John B. Andrews, enlisted February 20, 1864, 2d Light Battery. Mustered out, 
August 9. 186.5. 

Hamart Ale.xit, enlisted August 18, 1864, Co. D, 15th C. V. Captured, March 8, 1865, 
Kingston, N. C. Paroled, March 26, 186.5. Mustered out, July 20, 1865. 

Edward Bux on, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 4th C. V. Mustered out, September 
25, 1865. 

James A. Beach, enlisted August 15, 1862, Co. D, 19th C. V. Mustered out, June 3, 
1865. 

Henry Barnes, enlisted December 24, 1863, Co. C, 2d Artillery. Wounded, Septem- 
ber 22, 1864, Fisher's Hill, Va. Mustered out, August 18, 1865. 

Carlos Curtis, enlisted January 4, 1864, Co. D, 2d Artillery. Mustered out, .\ugust 

18, 1865. 

David Davenport, enlisted August 7, 1862, Co. D, 2d Artillery. Wounded, Septem- 
ber 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Died, October 26, 1864. 

Edwin Perkins, enlisted October 22, 1861, Co. C, 10th C. V. Discharged, October 7, 
1864, time expired. 

Charles W. Hurlburt, enlisted September 13, 1862. Co. 1, 2.5th C. V. Mustered out, 
July, 1865. 

Henry Ploquet, enlisted Co. B, 55tli M. Infantry V. 

Dennis P. Ryan, enlisted February 22, 1864, 2d Light Battery. Died, April 29, 1864, 
New Orleans. 

Marshall Smith, enlisted October 26, 1861, Corp. 1st Cavalry. Discharged, Septem- 
ber, 1862. 

Henry D. Hunt, enlisted September 13, 1862, Co. I. 25th C. V. Mustered out, 
August 26, 1863. 

Edward L. Hurlburt, enlisted October 3. 1862, Co. D, 1st Battery. Captured, 
August 18, 1864, Petersburg, Va. Died of starvation in Andersonville, Ga. 

A. Martensen, enlisted August 13, 1861, Co. D, 2d N. Y. Cavalry. Promoted 2d 
Lieutenant. Killed, June 7, 1863. 

Legrand Todd, enlisted October 9, 1861, Co. I, 9th C. V. Died, October 1, 1862. 

Willis T. Richardson, enlisted July 23. 1864, Co. A, 2d Artillery. Discharged, Feb- 
ruary 4, 1865. 

John Droham, enlisted August 25, 1863, Co. G, 20th C. V. Deserted, September 9, 
1863. 

William Clark, enlisted August 25, 1863, Co. G, 20th C. V. Deserted, November 24, 
1864. 

George Clark, enlisted August 25, 1863, Co. G, 20th C. V. Deserted, October 1, 1863. 

William Cooper, enlisted November 17, 1864, Co. I, 17th C. V. Mustered out. July 

19, 1865. 

Frank W. Mix, enlisted 3d Michigan Cavalry, served eleven months. Promoted 
Captain, 4th Michigan Cavalry. Promoted Major, for gallantry at battle of 
Stone River. 



122 HISTORY OF PI.^ IMOCTTII . 

Ambrose A. Curtis, enlisted September 13, 1862, Co. I, 25th C. V. Discharged, 
August 26, 1863. 

Henry L. Blakeslee, 19th Regt. Mich. Vol. Killed, March 5, 1863. Franklin, Tenn. 
Was buried on the field. Age, 24. 

William R. Guernsey, enlisted May 23, 1861, Co. I, 1st Artillery. Promoted Cor- 
poral, November 24, 1862. Sergeant, February 1, 1863. Quartermaster-Ser- 
geant, May 5, 1863. 2d Lieutenant, April 14, 1864. 1st Lieutenant, December 
10, 1864. Discharged, September 25, 1865. 

Samuel A. Starr, enlisted Hartford. Co. I, 1st Regt., H. A., C. V. Enlisted Middle- 
town, Co. E. 5th Regt., C. V. 

Charles L. Beach, enlisted New Haven, Co. C, 15th Regt. C. V. 

H. H. Foster, enlisted Glastonbury, Co. H, 13th Regt. C. V. 

Henry Prindle, enlisted Winchester, Co. C, H. A. 



CHAPTER \^III 



IIIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 



How They Were Conducted in Early Times— The Cost Borne by an Assessment on 
Each Parent, Who was also Required to Furnish Cord Wood and Board the 
Teacher a Certain Time— Anecdotes Told About the Old Instructors— Half of 
the Present Town Taxes Spent on Education. 

IN educational lines Plymouth compares favorably with other 
towns of its size. The writer was unable to learn when 
the first school was established, or the date of the division of the 
town into school districts. The expenses were defrayed in these 
earlv times by an assessment on each parent of the per diem 
cost, proportionate to the aggregate attendance, thus practically 
ottering a premium for non-attendance. In addition to the 
above, each parent was required to board the teacher a certain 
number of days, and also in some districts to furnish a specified 
amount of wood "for each scholar, fitted for the fire." 
Whether the latter phrase applied to the wood or to the scholar, 
was not stated. In severe weather it was estimated that the 
amount usually consumed was not far from a cord a week. The 
wood was left in the road near the house, so that it was often 
buried in the snow or wet with rain. At best it was always 
burnt green. No stoves added to the comfort of the pupils; 
what warmth they had was derived from a large open fire-place. 
A statute passed in 1799, recognized the existence at that 
time of a "school society" which controlled the schools. The 
provisions of the law were in many respects like those in force at 
the present time, though the language is quaint, reading, "the 
school society shall appoint a suitable number of persons, not 
exceeding nine — of competent skill in letters to be overseers — to 
examine teachers, to superintend and direct the introduction of 
youth in letters, religion, morals and manners, to direct the 
daily reading of the Bible, to recommend the master to conclude 
the exercise of each day with prayer," etc. 

The number of districts into which the town was finally 
divided was fourteen, each with its solitary school house and 
single school room in which was conducted a mixed school. 
The first district comprised Plymouth Center, the school house 
standing near the present one. No. 2 was Plymouth PIollow — 
now Thomaston — the house standing on what is now^ the park. 



124 msroRY of plvmouih. 

No. 3 was located at Walnut Hill, west of Thomaston. No. 4 
was composed of the villages of the woolen n'iill and knife shop, 
and the house stood near Fred Warner's. No. 5 was south of 
the center and the house was near Baldwin's mill. No. 6 was 
called lieland, Iloadleyville — now (iraystone — some miles south 
of Terryville, and the house was near the Iloadley clock shop. 
No. 7 was Todd Hollow, southeast of the center, and the house 
was near the residence of H. J. Cleveland. No. S was Indian 
Heaven — now AUentown — and comprised the territory around 
"■ Jack's Cave " in the extreme southeast part of the town. No. 9 
was Town Hill — the originally intended centei — lying one mile 
southwest of Terryville, and the house was near the former 
residence of Jared Blakeslee, now owned by a Mr. O'Donnell. 
No. 10 was Terryville, and the house was near the present 
school buildings, a long, low, single room building painted red, 
accommodating the territory now filling six departments at an 
expense to the town of $3,300. No. 11 was the East Plymouth 
house, situated in a lonely, isolated location, west of the hamlet. 
No. 12 was northwest of Terryville, and the house was near the 
residence of Elam Camp, now belonging to Hilo Holt. No. 13 
was north of the Center, now annexed to old No. 12, and the 
house was near the residence of Eli Potter, now occupied by 
C. B. Baldwin. No. 14 was the Woolen Mill, set oft" from No. 4. 

The school rooms, even in the villages, sixty years ago, were 
without even an apology for modern school room seats and desks. 
On three sides of the room were continuous slab or plank 
benches over which the girls as well as the boys were obliged to 
swing their feet whenever necessary to use the desk. The 
instructor's desk occupied the center. On this desk was 
stationed a rod or ferule; sometimes both. These, with books, 
writings, ink stands, rules and plummets, with a fire shovel and 
a pair of tongs, were the principal furniture. One side of the 
entry furnished a place of deposit for the hats and spare clothes 
of the boys. The girls generally carried their bonnets, etc., into 
the school room. The ventilation was as much neglected as its 
temperature ; and its cleanliness more than either. In summer 
the floor was washed once in two or three weeks. 

The winter school usually opened about the first of Decem- 
ber, and continued from twelve to sixteen weeks. The summer 
school opened about the first of May. Men weie uniformly 
employed in winter and women in summer. A strong prejudice 
existed against employing the same instructor more than once or 
twice in the same district. Good moral chaiacter and a thor- 
ough knowledge of the common branches were considered as 
indispensable qualifications in an instructor. In general, the 
candidate was some favorite or relative of the district committee, 
and the moral character of almost every instructor was unexcep- 
tionable. 

Instructors usually boarded in the families of the pupils. 
Their compensation varied from seven to twelve dollars a month 
for men and from sixty-two and a half cents to one dollar a week 
for women. One voung ladv who taught over thiitv terms in 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 1 25 

the same district, began iier career as teacher on the ninnificent 
sum ol" one dollar per week and boarded herself. 

None of the natives "to the manner born" have ever 
become professional teachers, though some were noted lor their 
success. Of these "Uncle" Abel Welton and his brother, 
"Uncle" Ben, were prominent. Alost of them took up the 
business as a makeshift for present benefit. Rev. John Doolittle 
taught for a time to aid in his college career. Others, doubtless, 
by their labors in this line, left their impress on the minds of 
those who have since become conspicuous in other capacities. 

The schools in the earlier days were under the control of a 
board of school visitors, who were required to visit and examine 
the schools twice during each term. The duty was sometimes 
performed in one at'teinoon — coming in at the commencement of 
the session, tarrying for an hour, and after taking a short walk, 
return for the second visit. In summer their visits were often 
omitted. Their visits were spent in hearing a few hurried 
lessons, and in making some remarks, general in their character. 
Writing and spelling weie leading studies every day, and on 
Saturday the Old Assembly Catechism, in the Congregational 
order and the Episcopal order, were regularly repeated. 
Webster's spelling book, the American Preceptor, and the New 
Testament were the principal books used. Arithmetic was 
taught by a few instructors one or two evenings in a week. 
Before Webster's school books appeared, Dilworth's "New 
Guide to the English Tongue," Fisher's " Instructor, or Young 
Man's Best Companion," were tlie chief books used in the 
colonies. Webster had tact in discerning the wants of the 
country in his da}^ and providing for them in his spelling book. 
There have been few moral lessons productive of the same eHect 
in the country, as the famous old fable of the " Boy that Stole 
Apples," and who sits, in the old woodcut, alarmingly exposed 
astride of a branch of a tree, almost naked of foliage, while the 
farmer in small clothes, one arm akimbo, the other in a most 
striking attitude, takes aim at the young "sauce-box." Then 
there is that forsaken "country maid and her milk pail," teach- 
ing tlie double lesson of the vanity of human expectations and 
the follv of unnecessary grief; that chickens are not to be 
counted before they are hatched, or milk to be wept over after it 
is spilt. The story, too, of the "boy that went to the wood to 
look for birds' nests when he should have gone to school," and 
the description of a good boy and of a bad boy, not forgetting 
the wonderful tale of " proverbs, counsels and maxims," all in 
words of one svllable, taxijig the wisdom of nations and the 
strong old Saxon power of the English language ; all sound 
lessons, calculated to make honest men and ingenious Benjamin 
Franklins. In teaching the alphabet it is customary for the 
instructor to take his seat, and point to the letters precisely in 
the order in which they are placed in the book. A, B, C, tkc. 
If the pupil could name the letter immediately, it was well, if 
not, he was told it. After going through from A to Z, the 



126 HISTORY OF PI.YMOUTH. 

double letters were also taught. Sometimes the process was 
inverted ; beginning at the bottom and ending at A. 

To teach spelling, a lesson was assigned, consisting of a 
certain number of columns of words arranged in alphabetical 
order, as the words of our spelling books are, which the pupil 
was requested to study over and over, until he could recollect 
and spell them from memory. In this way one word suggested 
by association the next; the second, the third ; and so on. No 
faculty was called into exercise but the memory. If a woid was 
mis-spelled, the next pupil who could spell it was allowed to 
take his place, or "go above him," as it was called. He who 
was at the head of class at evening had a credit mark and some- 
times a written certificate of good scholarship. 

In teaching reading the process was equally mechanical. 
The instructor generally read the first verse or paragraph, and 
sometimes read with them in his turn. The instructor, or the 
pupil at the head, made the corrections. These extended no 
farther than the right pronunciation of the words, and a meas- 
ured attention to the pauses. "Read as you talk," was a rule 
seldom given, and still less frequently reduced to practice. It 
was customary to read the Testament and Preceptor (the princi- 
pal reading books), generally in course. There were, however, 
certain days of the week on which selected pieces were read. 
These consisted of an oration, and perhaps a dialogue, with 
some of the more difficult poetry. When visitors called, they 
were commonlv required to read these selections, which they 
had learned almost by heart. 

New beginners in writing usually had a copy of straight 
marks. Over the top of the next page the master wrote " avoid 
alluring company," in large hand, which the pupil was required 
to imitate. A page a day, that is, one-eighth of a common sheet 
of foolscap paper, was their task in writing. The pupil's copy 
was usually in alphabetical order, and during the first year, 
almost wholly of coarse hand, ruled (for all were required to 
rule) from one-fourth to half an inch wide. Engraved copy 
slips instead of written ones were sometimes used. 

When arithmetic was taught in the evenings, the instructor 
usually wrote sums for the pupil on a slate, which he was 
required to work. Daboll aritlimetics were used as guides. 

The order of exercises for the day vvas usually as follows: 
From nine o'clock A. m., to fifteen minutes past nine, the 
instructor came to the door with a large ferule, and struck 
several times on the door post as a signal for opening the school. 
Such pupils as were present came in, and either took their seats 
or crowded round the fire. Those of the first class who were 
present, read in the Testament. The lesson consisted of from 
two to four chapters, according to their length. The time 
usually allotted to this exercise was from twenty to thirty 
minutes, or until most of the pupils had arrived. 

When this exercise closed, writing was attended to. In the 
winter, copies and pens were to be prepared, ink to be thawed 
and watered, and numbers wished to go to the fire at once. In 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 12^ 

the midst of all this, the second class generally took their Testa- 
ment for reading. While the second and third classes were 
reading the instructor usually furnished copies and pens, and 
assigned the spelling lessons for the forenoon. Those who were 
able to, read a few sentences of some of the easy lessons in the 
spelling book, while others merely read over the words of the 
spelling lesson. 

At a'uout half-past ten the welcome sound " you may go 
out" was heard. Everyone made his long "obeisance," and 
was immediately in the streets, but in from tive to ten minutes 
the loud rap brought them to the place of obeisance, and ulti- 
mately to their seats again. The two sexes went out separately. 
The rest of the forenoon was spent chiefly in spelling. The 
school closed at twelve o'clock. At the usual signal, " school 
dismissed," a scene of confusion commenced. But at all other 
times they usually went out in good order. In the afternoon the 
rap on the door summoned them at once. The American Pre- 
ceptor was then read for nearly half an hour by the first class, 
and about a quarter of an hour by the second. Writing went on 
again, simultaneously with the reading of the second and smaller 
classes. 

When the course of lessons was finished, a short recess was 
allowed as in the forenoon. On coming in from recess or inter- 
mission, it was customary to have a pail of water and cup stand 
by the door. It was rarely "handed round," but every one 
helped himself. On coming in from the afternoon recess, the 
classes were all exercised in their spelling lessons again, begin- 
ning with the youngest. After spelling, the pauses, abbrevia- 
tions, numerals, etc., were recited. In addition to these the 
instructor usually had a set of written questions, embracing the 
time when many remarkable events happened, the various occur- 
rences, tables of distances, weight, measure, etc. The first class 
and sometimes the second, were required to answer these daily 
until they were perfectly familiar. The older classes were 
I'equired to commit the introduction to the spelling book to 
memory. 

A table of words spelled difierently, but pronounced alike, 
was quite often a favorite table with most instructors. It con- 
sisted of four pages of the spelling book. It was usuallv studied 
until many of the pupils could read it from beginning to end. 
But teachers were never known to require pupils to apply it. 
The exercises of the day were usually closed by calling the roll 
or catalogue of pupils, by announcing the name of the scholar 
whose turn it was to make the fire in the morning, and by giving 
positive orders for every pupil to "go straight home, and be 
civil with everybody he might meet with." Once a week the 
writers were required to write each a line for examination. 
They were then numbered according to their excellence. He 
whose line was No. i was allowed to have first choice among 
the seats; No. 2 the second, and soon. About once a week 
they were allowed to choose sides for spelling, which naturally 
took up about half the afternoon. The side or party who mis- 



I2S 



HISTORY OF PLVMOUTII. 





I M 






r 

f ^"^^ 



Terrvville Instiluti' 



SCHOOLS OF PLYMOUTH. 



spelled the smallest number of words was declared to have beat; 
and thev usually manifested much triumph. 

Requiring the teachers to "board around" was productive 
of much amusement, as well as some unpleasant experiences. 
Lyman D. Baldwin relates that he was once boarding with a 
family that had seen better days, but felt that the next best thing 
to the fact was keeping up appearances. Consequently the best 
the house aflbrded was produced each day, much to the satisfac- 
tion of one little fellow, who, at the table exclaimed to his elder 
brother in his peculiar drawling tone: " S-a-y — Bill — don't- 
w-e 1-i-v-e g-o-o-d w-h-e-n Mr. Baldwin is h-e-r-e.^" 

The change in the law — taxing the towns for support of 
schools, instead of individual parents, was made in 1S54, since 
which time Plymouth schools have materiallv improved. The 
people have generously added to the appropriation for schools 
until now it amounts to over $6,000 out of a total of about 
$12,000 raised by tax for all purposes. The fointeen original 
departments in the town have increased to fifteen in the present 
town of Plymouth, and fourteen in Thomaston, which was taken 
from Plymouth in 1S75. The cost of the schools in what was 
the old town, is now about $13,000. The amount received from 
public funds (presumably the income of the school fund) in 
1843 — the earliest record obtainable, was $709.80. In 1845 the 
income of the town deposit fund was divided equally between 
the districts. 

The following anecdote of the old gentlemen Welton, 
Uncle Abel and his brother, is told bv an old resident of 
PIvmouth : " Both were teaching, and Uncle A. was visiting 
Uncle B.'s school. He had his scholars classified, the bright 
ones bv themselves, also the dullards, giving most of his time to 
the bright ones. At the close of the session Uncle A. said, 
' Ben, vou are not doing right bv those dull boys; some of them, 
if cared for, will be as good scholars as you have.' 'That's not 
so,' said Ben, ' The fact is, the Almighty never intended those 
fellows to know anything, and I am not going to try to dis- 
appoint Him.' " 



SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. I. 



The first school building of Plvmouth that can be called to 
mind was a one storv structure situated on the same site where 
the present school house stands, west of Plvmouth green. The 
desks in the old building were set next to the wall with the 
pupils' backs towards the teacher. There were at that time 
about sixtv pupils. The present building was erected in i<^49. 
The hioh school is taught bv Miss Bessie M. Turner of North- 
field, who has accomplished some good work since her engage- 
ment. Miss Turner is a graduate of Mount Holyoke. 

Miss Anna M Trumbull of Litchfield lias charge of the 
intermediate class, whicli occupies the second storv of the Con- 
gresfational lecture building. This building was at one time 
used as a winter academv, and at another time for a school room 



130 lIISrOKV OF I'J.V.MOLITII. 

by the Hart Female Seminary, which also occupied the house 
where William W. Bull now lives. Miss Alice A. Woolsey of 
Milford has charge of the primary department and occupies part 
of the main school building with the high school. Miss Wool- 
sey and Miss Trumbull are l)oth graduates of the Normal School 
of New Britain. The school committee are George Langdon, 
Mrs. Clarence Beardslev, Frank Blakeslee. 



scriooi, DisTKicr no. 2. 

The rirst recorded sale of land to the Tenth School District of 
the first School Society of Plymouth is shown to be in 1827, 
when Allen Bunnell sold a piece of land for the sum of $5, on 
which the old school house stood that was burned between 1840 
and 1S4V When Rev. Merrill Richardson first came to Terry- 
ville this old red building was in use, with nothing to commend 
it except space and air. Tliis was the only place for evening 
meetings, singing schools, etc. He soon commenced talking to 
his people about a new and more commodious building, and 
several meetings were held to talk the matter over, which were 
of course held in the old school house. A few hours after one 
of these meetings the cry of fire was heard, and the old structure 
was in flames. The people flocked to it with pails of water, but 
the water had no eflect, and it was doubtfid whether a drop 
reached the flame. Tiie people were exhorted not to injure 
themselves with over exertion, and not a person suftered in con- 
sequence. One and another asked, "How did it take fire.^" 
and some of the leading men were seen to nudge each other and 
look askance at Mr. Richardson, as much as to say, "Perhaps 
he could tell." It was never known how the building took fire. 
While there was no mourning there, and a great deal of joking, 
it was never believed to be the work of an incendiary. The 
second sale of land to this district is recorded as occurring March 
8, 1845, by which sale Mr. Bunnell received the sum of $11^0. 
His next sale was made April 36, 1849, to the Terryville Insti- 
tute of Terryville, by which society the main building of the 
present school house was built, and was afterwards leased to the 
Second Scliool District of Plymouth for 999 years. Many im- 
provements have been made on the buildings and grounds since 
the lease was obtained. The place is heated by the Smead hot 
air system, which makes it a conifortable place of study for the 
1 =;o scholars who attend there. The Pequabuck school is also 
in the Second School District, and has on an average from vear 
to year about twenty scholars, who are now taught by Miss 
Anna Haas of Terryville The present school committee are 
W. L. Norton, George F. Cair and Steplien D. Purrington, 
and tlie school visitors are A. vS. (lavlord, William Clemence, 
Rev. Dr. Gav. Fred A. Scott and Judah W. Clark of Terryville 
and A. W. Welton, M. W. T>cach', H. i:. Stoughton and L D. 
Baldwin of Plymouth. The course of studies in these schools 
has been grcatl\' imjiioxed 1)\ tlie hard work and thorough 



SCHOOLS OF I'LV.MOUTII. I3I 

methods used by the present principal, Fred Howard Davis, of 
Lyons, N. Y., who has had charge the past two years. Mr. 
Davis was prepared for college at the Academy of Canandaigua, 
N. Y., in the class of '87, and graduated from Hamilton College, 
Clinton, N. Y., class of '92. 

The High school has thirty-three scholars, an increase dur- 
ing the past year of from sixty-five to seventy-five per cent. 

The Grammar school has twenty-five scholars, and is taught 
by Miss Margaret Pinney of Bloonifield. 

Mrs. Emma Clark of Terryville has charge of the interme- 
diate department, and has about thirty-five scholars. Miss May 
Bunnell of Terrvville has thirty-five pupils in the primary 
department. 

The village has the reputation of producing more scholars 
fitted for college than any other village of its size in the state. 

Jane K. Johnson is said to have taught a longer period than 
any teacher since the school was established, serving twenty-four 
terms in different departments. 

The kindergarten department is presided over by Miss 
Edith Scott of Glens Falls, N. Y., and has about thirty pupils. 
The object of this training is to develop the various faculties of 
the child's mind, to put it in working possession of all its pow- 
ers, rather than to impart general information. The child is 
here taken through progressive periods of physical and mental 
development with a view to stimulate independent thought by 
means of independent action on its own part. 

Elocution is another improved feature of this school, as each 
pupil is required to give one rhetorical exercise as often as once 
a month, and once in six weeks in the High school for general 
rhetoric. 



Centennial Celebration 



OF THE 



TOWN OF 



♦ PLYMOUTH 



<■<■ 



CONNECTICUT, 



^v ^i ^v 



MAY 14 AND i^, 1895. 



C H A P T 12 R IX 



CKN TEXMAI. CELEHUA TIOX. 



Preliminary Meetings Held and Plans Perfected for the Celebration of the 
Centennial Anniversary of the Town of Plynaouth-Complete Account of the 
Exercises, Including the Speeches of Judge A. P. Bradstreet and Other 
Orators of the Day. 

THE first step towards the centennial celebration of the incor- 
poration of the town of Plymouth was taken at the annual 
town meeting holden at Terryville, October 3, £892. On motion 
of George Langdon it was voted: "That the selectmen be 
directed to appoint a committee of three to inquire into the 
matter of a celebration of the Centennial of the town's organiza- 
tion in 1S95, and report to the next annual meeting." 

In accordance with that vote, on December 6, 1S92. the 
selectmen appointed E. L. Pond. George Langdon and J. C. 
Fenn a committee to consider the advisability of holding a cen- 
tennial celebration in 1895, and report at the next town meeting. 

At the annual town meeting iield October 2, 1S93, the fol- 
lowing report was submitted : 

••The committee appointed by the selectmen to inquire into the matter of 
celel)rating the centennial of the town in 1895, beg leave to reiiort as follows: 

" We believe tliat a public celebration to commemorate the One Hundredth 
Anniversary of the town's existence, carefully and wisely conducted, could not 
be other than a success. To gather the scatiered fragments of its history into 
tangible form and arrange a programme suitable for the occasion calls for 
enet-getic work and an expenditure of money. But if entered into by all good 
citizens with the enthusiasm and disposition to help which the occasion would 
demand, we believe it could be made not only instructive but of permanent value. 
We therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution : 

''Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the selectmen to 
arrange for a public celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the town in 
1895, and that a suitable appropriation be made to defray the expense of the 

same." 

Edgar I.. Pom). ) 

George Langdon, - Coiu/uitfi'''. 

Jason C. Fenn, l 

This re.solution was accepted and it was moved and voted 
that the sum of $100 be appropriated to defray expenses. 



136 IIISTORV OF PLYMOUTH. 

October 13, 1S93, the selectmen appointed Edgar L. Pond, 
George Langdon and Jason C. Fenn a committee on the cen- 
tennial celebration. Messrs. Pond and Langdon declinetl to 
serve, and Richard Baldwin and Byron Tuttle were appointed 
to fill the vacancies. 

On [une 7, 1894, the committee asked that the selectmen 
appoint additional members, and proposed the names of B. B. 
Satterlee, George Langdon, B. J. Holt, A. C. Bunnell, Walter 
F. Tolles, Abel S. Beardsley, James Terry, E. S. Beach, A. W. 
Welton, H. G. Burr and Charles .S. vSmith. which names were 
approved by the selectmen. 

The centennial committee met in Terryville, Jiuie 23, 1S94, 
and elected permanent officers. The meeting was called to 
order by ]ason C. Fenn. Byron Tuttle was elected chairman, 
Richard Baldwin first vice chairman, Geoige Langdon second 
vice chairman, Jason C. Fenn secretary, Jonathan vStarr treasurer. 

Committee on Invitation. — George Langdon, fason C. 
Fenn, Abel S. Bsardslev (resigned). Charles S. Smith, Arthur 
C. Bunnell. 

Committee on Oration and Addresses — Byron Tuttle. Abel 
vS. Beardsley (resigned), Richard Baldwin. 

Committee on Loan Exhibition. — James Terry, A. W. Wel- 
ton, Arthur C. Bunnell, Richard Baldwin. B. B. Satterlee, 
B. J. Holt, also the board of selectmen. 

VotciU That the day of celebrating be the third Wednesday 
of May, 1895. 

J^(>fi'(!\ That the loan exhibition remain open through the 
week. 

\'(itt\i\ That the matter of inviting the original towns be 
referred to the committee on invitations. 

Voted. To appoint a musical committee; and Henry G. 
Burr, Carlisle H. B:il(Uvin. Charles H. Ijeardsley and Otis B. 
Hough be that committee. 

Voted, That the committee on the different committees be 
empowered to fill vacancies. 

Voted, That the clerk notify each member of his election. 

At the annual town meeting in Plymouth Center, October 
I, 1894, it was voted that the town appropriate ibr the use of the 
centennial committee a sum not to exceed $300, to be audited 
and approved by the selectmen 

The second meeting of the centennial committee was held 
October i^, 1S94, ''^ ^^^^ Town Clerk's office in Terryville. The 
meeting was called to order by Byron Tuttle, president. 

It was moved that the meeting May 15. 1S95, be on Ply- 
mouth Hill. Moved to amend by striking out Plymouth Hill 
and insert Terryville. An informal ballot was called for on the 
amendment, which stood eight to eight. A formal vote on the 
(juestion w^as taken, and decided (o hold the celebration in Terry- 
ville, twelve to four. An attempt to make the vote inianimous 
was unsuccessful. 

Voted, To appoint a committee of three to investigate 
souvenir spoons and decide on some design. 



CEXTENXIAI. CELEBRATION. 137 

Jason C. Fenn, Richard Baldwin and Abel S. Beardsley 
(resigned) were appointed and requested to report to next 
meeting". 

Matter of committee on entertainment was deferred. 

Committee on tents and accommodation was appointed as 
follows: E. S. Beach, Jason C. Fenn, A. C. Bunnell. 

It was suggested that next meeting be in the evening at Ply- 
mouth Center at call of secretary. 

Charles S. Smith was appointed by committee on invitation 
to see to sending out notices. 

The third meeting of the centennial committee was held at 
■the office of Byron Tut;le, Esq., November 23, 1894. 

]^otcd^ That a committee of six ladies be appointed, three 
from each village, they to appoint any person they may choose 
for chairman, also to appoint such sub-committee as they may 
see fit, to provide entertainment for invited guests. 

AW^v/, That Mrs. George Langdon, Mrs. Edwin M. Tal- 
madge and Mrs. Bennett H. Sutliff be the committee for Ply- 
mouth Center. 

Vofed^ That E. S. Beach consult with Terryville committee 
and furnish names of three Terryville ladies to the clerk to act 
on this committee on entertainment, and that he call the first 
meeting. 

]^otcJ^ That a sub-committee of three be appointed to 
investigate arrangements for feeding others than invited guests. 

Vofcd^ Jason C. Fenn, Bvron Tuttle, Edward vS. Beach, be 
that committee. 

]\iteJ^ That this meeting recommend to the committee on 
orations and addresses and the musical committee, the matter of 
public centennial exercises, Tuesday evening, May 14, at the 
Congregational Church in Plymouth Center, and report to next 
meeting of this committee, which is to beat Town Clerk's office, 
Terryville, at call of president and clerk. 

As proposed at last meeting, E. S. Beach reported to the 
clerk the names of three Terryville ladies to act with the ladies 
from Plvinouth Center on the entertainment committee, namely: 
Mrs. Richard Baldwin, Mrs. Elvira Rouse, Mrs. Judah W. 
Clark, and the clerk called them to meet November 27, at 
Terryville, at which meeting Mrs. Elvira Rouse was chosen 
president and Mrs. R. Baldwin secretary. 

At a meeting at Town Clerk's office December 6, 1S94, it 
was voted to add two to the committee on invitations. Andrew 
S. Gavlord and Byron Tuttle were appointed. 

VoteJ^ That the centennial committee on orations and 
addresses, with the music committee, be instructed to provide for 
the opening exercises of the centennial celebration at the Con- 
gregational Church, Plvmouth Center, Tuesday evening. May 
14. Aleeting adjourned to Mondav evening, December 10, 1S94, 
at office of Byron Tuttle. At this meeting the committee 
listened to a plan submitted in person by Francis Atwater, ot 
Meriden, Conn., pertaining to a souvenir book, and it was 

VotccU That this committee authorize Francis Atwater to prepare 



1 38 HIS'IOK\ OF I'LV MOUTH. 

and execute a souvenir of the celebration to be held in Plymouth 
May 15, said souvenir to be in pamplilet form containing histori- 
cal and other matter, also pictures suitable to the occasion. In 
consideration of the presentation of 1,000 copies fiee to tiiis 
committee, it is aj^reed that no other pul)licati()n in conflict with 
this will be authorized. 

Votcd^ That the secretary be instructed to diaw up card ot' 
invitation and present it to next meeting. 

Meeting at office of Byron Tuttle, January 12^ 1S95, it \vas 
voted to add to the committee on orations and addresses Edgar 
L. Pond, George Langdon, Henry E. Stoughton, George C. 
Clark. Abel S. Beardsley having declined to seive. his name is 
to be dropped from this committee. 

]'otci{^ That Bela B. Satterlee be appointed a special com- 
mittee to furnish Francis Atwater with material for the centennial 
souvenii . 

/7Vcv/, To add the names of eight ladies to the committee on 
loan exhibition, namely : Miss Anna Talmadge, Mrs. L. H. 
Ploucquet (who resigned). Miss Nellie Langdon, Mrs. Juliett B. 
Atwood (who resigned), for Plymouth Center; Miss Alay 
Clark, Miss Minnie C Bates, Miss Gertrutle Ells, Miss Laura 
Grannis, for Terryville. 

Meeting February 11, 1S95, at ofKce of Byron Tuttle. It 
was voted to invite the selectmen of the town of Watertown and 
Thomaston to appoint a committee to imite and co-operate with 
Plymouth in the centennial celebration. 

]'otC(}^ Mrs. Arthur M. Gordon (resigned), and Mis. Oscar 

D. Beach as members of the loan committee. 

March 9, 189^, Watertown replied that they had received 
the invitation and had appointed H. F. Da\is, H. T. Dayton 
and C. B Mattoon a committee to co-operate with us. Thomas- 
ton also reported that they had accepted and had appointed a 
committee. Waterbury was also invited but did not respond. 

Meeting at Town Clerk's office March 9, it was voted to 
have steel engraved invitations, and order 150 with envelopes 
(later order was increased to ^00). Wording was also adopted. 
Dinner cards were agreed upon at this meeting, also price fiftv 
cents for souvenir book. 

Meeting March 16, H. E. Stoughton, Edgar L. Pond and 

E. C. Goodwin were appointed on the general executive com- 
mittee, as Abel Beardslev, Arthur C. Bunnell and B. J, Holt 
were unable to serve. E. Clayton Goodwin was elected chair- 
man on tents and accommodations. Z. F. Grannis and Henry E. 
Hinman were added to this committee. 

Miss May Minor and Miss Lilla Markham were a|)pointed 
on loan committee, Mrs. Gordon, Ploucquet and Atwood having 
resigned. 

At a meeting held April i^, Edgar L. Pond, George Lang- 
don and Henrv E. Hinman were appointed auditors. Richard 
Baldwin, J. C. P'enn and E. M. Talmadge were appointed to 
take chnrg'e of sale of spoons. The musical committee were 



CENTENNIAL CELEBK Al'IOX. I 39 

allowed $300 for general expenses, and $=50 to get up a niusicale 
in Congregational Chinch at Terryville. 

April 39, Edgar L. Pond was appointed presiding otticer oi' 
the entire exercises, both evening and day. A request was made 
that six special constables be appointed. Andrew S. Gaylord 
was appointed to take charge of the sale of books. George 
Langdon and Jason C. Fenn were appointed to take charge of 
registration 

The tollowing progiamme was adopted ft)r the exercises of 
the celebration : 

The exercises on Tuesday evening, May 14, commenced 
shortly aftei' eight o'clock in the Congregational Church on Ply- 
mouth Hill. The edifice was profusely decorated and a large 
black shieltl with the dates " 1795-1S95 " in gilt, hung high upon 
the wall back of the platform. 

.Vt 6.30 the lamps had been lighted, and seats tilled rapidly 
for the iiuipt)se of witnessing the first scene in an historical 
event. The church walls soon enclosed a vast and interested 
audience, stated bv one, who claimed to have counted them, to 
numhei" nearlv 700. At any rate the church was crowded — 
densely packed to the doors. Men and women, natives of the 
old town who had spent their lives in faraway states and had 
wandeied to all parts of the earth, returned to pay a fitting 
tribute to the founders of the town and to help in celebrating its 
one hundiedth birthdav. 

The soft light shed its rays upon young men and women 
just on the threshold of life, full of vigor, and animation, who 
had come to join in the celebration ; upon the older and more 
sedate members of the communitv who had tasted the first fruits 
of life's successes and failures, and upon the gray hairs of grand- 
fathers and grandmothers who, though past the zenith of life and 
now on the downward plane, had come to renew their youth for 
a brief period in recollections and reminiscences of the past. 

Six pieces from Colt's orchestra of Hartford, and Mrs. W. 
H. Sparks as pianiste, furnished the instrumental music, while 
the melodv from the chorus of 100 voices rolled foith under the 
magic apple tree wand in the hands of Director Baldwin. The 
music soared to the summit then dropped to the softest depths, 
but always in perfect time, now falling, now rising, and thunder- 
ing out over the audience until the selection was finished and the 
last chords were lost in rounds of applause. Then must the 
tiresome work of rehearsals have been amply paid for in the 
satisfaction that they — each and every one — had been the means 
of giving pleasure and winning such approbation. 

When every one was seated and the musicians were ready 
George Langdon stepped upon the platform and spoke as follows : 

The chairman of the committee having cliarge of this Cen- 
tennial Celebration has recjuested me to call your attention to 
three things: First, that applause be' done only by clapping of 
hands : second, that vou put on your glorification spectacles and 
think that Plvmouth is larger than the state, larger than the 
nation ; yes, larger than the empires of the world, for a few 



140 HISTORY OF Pr.ViMOLTTH. 

hours, for the sake of broadening the horizon of onr lives, and 
making us to think tliat even a little country town in a hundred 
years can reach out to the furthermost parts of the earth ; and to 
encourage those who are younger in lii'e to feel that life means 
something, even here in an ordinary New England town. 
Therefore by music, by speakers, by the illustrated printed page, 
your committee have endeavored to lead you in this way to 
glorify Plymouth for the sake of honest, true, manly pride. We 
also ask you to register your names, all of you. You will find a 
register in the porch to-night, and on the morrow you will find 
one in the post office here, and at Terryville to-morrow at some 
place to be made known to you. The further announcement I 
have to make is that the committee have unanimously elected 
Edgar L. Pond as chairman of these Centennial services; a true 
son of Plymouth. His father was a Plymouth man, his grand- 
father was a Plymouth man, and his great-grandfather came to 
Plymouth. My friends, he has not only got a good ancestry, 
but has got a good record. 

One thing more. This mallet was made from an apple tree 
that was planted by Rev. Mr. Todd, the first minister in this 
town of Plymouth, on Town Hill. It is to be sent to one of the 
descendants of Mr. Todd. I thought it might be pleasing to 
you to know this incident. The leader of the music has some- 
thing from the same tree, which will give inspiration for these 
-good friends who are to lead us to-niglit. I therefore for the 
committee give these exercises into the hands of Mr. Pond. 

E. L. Pontl — The dutv of a presiding officer, as I under- 
stand it, especially upon an occasion like this, is not to talk, but 
rather to so direct that others may have an opportunity. We 
tliink it is about time. We will proceed to the programme. 

"Unfold Ye Portals," from "The Redemption" (Gounod), 
by the Centennial Chorus. 

Reading of the 90th Psalm by Rev. Wm. Alfretl Gay, D. I)., 
who ofiered praver as follows : 

" Almiglity God, our heavenly Father, to-night as we come 
before Thee we thank Thee for the record of the hundred years 
whose completion we meet here to celebrate. We thank Thee, 
our heavenly Father, that Thou art the God of communities ; 
that Thou, who boldest the nations in the hollow of Tliy hand, 
takest an interest in all the humlile afi'airs of every community. 
O God, we come here to-night to rejoice, and we would rejoice 
in Thv presence. We thank Thee, our Father, for the many 
noble characters which have been developed in the town of Ply- 
mouth within the last centurv. We thank Thee that so many 
influences have gone out from this little corner of the American 
Repul)lic to bless and to assist the multitudes ol this land. 

We rejoice, our Father, that we are permitted to enter 
upon this glad celebration, but we desire to implore Thy bless- 
ing upon us, even as Thou hast been with us during these 
hundred vears. Vouchsafe Thy blessing, we pray Thee, and 
Thy benediction, not only upon all the exercises of this evening, 
but upon all the services of this week. Grant, Almighty God, 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 1,41. 

in this sanctuary, in this community, where Thou hast so often, 
revealed Thy power, that in these exercises we may glorify Thy 
great and holy Name. 

The Lord bless us in our singing, the Lord guide us in 
the instrumental music, the Lord be with us in the addresses and- 
in the reminiscences which may be given to us from time to time, 
and as we shall separate and go to ovn* homes far and wide, as 
well as in this locality, may we realize that we have obtained 
from these exercises new inspiration for the duties of life. And 
to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit shall be all the praise, 
through Christ our Redeemer. Amen." 

Rev. C. H. Smith made the address of welcome, and spoke 
as follows : 

"Mr. Chairman, Friends, Fellow-Citizens and returning 
Wanderers from the Four Qiiarters of the Earth : One of the 
precious memories that is dear to every loyal son of New 
England is the recollection of the great festal days, when the 
Thanksgiving season comes round. The dear old mother in the 
home was many davs before preparing for it. The brick oven 
was heated, the toothsome dainties were prepared, and when the 
auspicious morning had arrived and the children returned, she 
stood at the doorway with the silver already upon her brow. 
vShe clasped the hand ; they kissed her withered cheek, and it 
was the sweetest of all the things of the year — the great home- 
gathering of the children in the father's and mother's house. 
So, to-night, in a certain sense you come here, returning like 
children. Plymouth has upon her brow the silver of a centurv, 
and it has been entrusted to me by tlie committee to extend to 
you the word of welcome; to give you the friendly salutation, to 
extend to you the kindlv benediction, that in the services of this 
hour you may rejoice with us in the mercy of God through the 
centurv, and in the loving kindness that has been in the hearts 
of men for all these years. 

We bid you then first of all welcome to this edifice, to the 
church of which it is the property — a chiuxh that antedates the 
civic life of the community for more than half a century^ — for our 
church is not a hundred years old, but it is 155 years old 
to-night and has been for seven days. I welcome you on behalf 
of all these sacred and holy influences: because of what the 
Church of God has been in this community in the centin-v past.. 
At tills altar the children received the hand of benediction ; 
before this altar there stood the noble man and the fair maid, as 
their lives were united and thev went out into the world and to 
its battles; here within these walls have lain in silent state some 
of those who were verv precious to your hearts. In behalf, then, 
of all the godlv memories that your hearts are cherishing this 
hour, I welcome you. 

I bid you welcome, to-night, also to the homes of this 
people, to the houses of this community. There are tender 
associations for some of you in them. As you return to the old 
home you will tread the threshold that was worn by impatient 
feet as von rushed out to your play. You will look again on the 



142 HlSrOKV OK PLVMOU'lII. 

old apple tree, covered to-night with its wonderful crown of 
snowflakes, and you will think : '' I never had such apples as 
those 1 ate when I was a boy." We welcome you, then, to the 
homes that were dear; are dear still to you. 

We also welcome you to ovn- hills and valleys. Well may 
this beautiful valley of ours be called the Switzerland of New 
England. Many a noble son has gone forth from this community 
with high aspirations because of the voice of Nature that 
sounded in his ears. As he looked out over the hilltop and 
down into the valley, the pointing spires of the hills seemed to 
lead his soul nearer to God, and the music of the rivulet and the 
rill and the river, as it went on with its sweet harmony to the 
sea, sang in his heart some message of the love of the eternal 
Father. I want, then, in welcoming you back to-night to bid 
vou remember the hill and the valley : that it extends its arms to 
you, all Nature bidding you welcome. 

And certainly we should be recreant to the beautiful and 
illustrious history of the past, did we not also bid you welcome 
in behalf of the sacred city of our dead. It is certainly no word 
of derogation to the sons that now live, to say that of the noble 
men and saintly women who walked these streets in days gone 
by, and whose ashes rest in God's Acre, there were none nobler, 
none truer, none more faithful to their duty, to their trust, to 
God. So to-night, with the sacred memoiies of the fathers rest- 
ing upon vou, I bid you welcome. 

We extend to-night — this town of Plymouth — the hand of 
welcome to our mother and grandmother, I think we ought to 
call her, the fair Qiieen City of our Naugatuck Valley, the 
shimmer of whose product with its light of gold encircles the 
world — we extend to-night the hand of welcome to her who was 
for a little time our mother — the town of Watertown and her 
citizens. 

We won't forget also to welcome our baby, and aie glad 
to see she has come back, got to be a pretty good-sized child — 
Thomaston — you are likely to get to be bigger than we are, we 
liope vou will be as good, but we know you never will. 

We remember to-night that from this community of ours 
have gone out into the broad earth, to the westward, northward, 
southward and eastward, the brave sons and fair daughters, who 
have proved themselves true to their noble ancestry; who have 
proved themselves true to the fair past of this community, and as 
their thought comes back to us and as some of them return to us 
from hillside and plain, we bid them to-night welcome. Friends, 
one and all, in the name of the committee I l)id you welcome." 

Mr. Pond — About twentv years ago this old town of 
Plymouth, whose one hundredth anniversary we aie now cele- 
brating, met with a great accident. At a certain point aliout 
lialf way up tlie hill from Thomaston — I suppose climbing the 
hill wore on the people to that extent that it could hold out no 
longer, and although the good people on the hill tried in every 
wav to hold the town together, thev iinallv had to yield to the 
inevitable and it broke in two at that point, leaving Thomaston 



CIiNTENNIAI. CELEBRA'lIOX. I43 

a full-fledged town of her own. We congratulate our friends in 
the valley upon the success that has attended their labors in 
endeavoring to govern themselves. But to-night we would pre- 
fer to remove that stone which marks the boimdary line— we 
would suspend the rules, so to speak, for the next twenty-four 
hours, and prefer that the line should be as it was ceded to us 
from Watertown one hundred years ago. We believe that the 
Thomaston people would gladly accede to this request, for they 
certainly liave shown sympath\' with the management in this 
Centennial Celebration. We note that their singers are seated 
by the side of those of Plymouth and Terryville in this chorus, 
and I see before me many men who if they were called upon to 
vote in the room below, as they did in former years, would be 
obliged to climb up the hill in order to cast tJieir ballot. But 
more than this, we have called upon one of Thomaston's most 
distinguished citizens to prepare for us the principal address of 
the evening. \'ou will note upon vour programme the address 
"Manufacturing and its Progress," and I have the pleasure of 
introducing as the speaker. Judge Albert P. Bradstreet, of 
Thomaston. 

Judge Bradstreet then delivered the following interesting and 
instructive address, which should be read by everyone interested 
in the history of manufacturing in Plymouth or Thomaston, who 
had not the pleasure of listening to its delivery, as it contains a 
vast amount of information unknown, or at least unrealized, bv 
many : 

"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : The red man 
ground his corn in a mortar and cut the poles for his wigwam, 
and timber for his canoe with his rudely fashioned axe of stone. 
His wants never outran his necessities, and his necessities were 
satisfied with the requirements of a simple subsistence. His 
white successor landed upon the shore of New England 375 
years ago with unbroken centuries of civilized life and refine- 
ment beiiind him and the promptings within him of an ambition 
to make the most of his surroundings and to rise as far as lay 
within his power in the scale of humanity. To care for the 
body, to cultivate the mind and prepare the soul for eternity, 
were all objects to him of deep solicitude. 

The early settlers of the towMi of Plymouth whose one 
hundredth birthday we now commemorate were, as far as we 
can gather, men of this same general stamp. They yielded 
obedience to law and homage to God. They identified them- 
selves with every measure that made for the welfare of society, 
and studied the general interests of the communities in which 
they lived. The early settlers of this town must have been 
endowed with considerable mechanical ingenuity for that period, 
and a natural aptitude for manufacturing as attested by the large 
number of interests which in a small way were planted in 
dit^erent parts of the town. 

Possibly the rugged nature of the soil compelled them to 
seek other methods of livelihood and turned their attention to 



'44 



jiisroK\- OF PL\Moi;iii. 



the numerous small streams as agencies which they could enlist 
in their support. 

In addition to this, moreover, was the general feeling 
strongly implanted in their breasts of independence in every 
sense of the word from the mother country. 

The war of the revolution had only a few years before 
terminated which released them from British thraldom from a 
governmental standpoint, and it was natural that independence 
in every conceivable ramification shoidtl ha\e animated their 
purpose. It is interesting in this connection to note that in iSoS, 
in the tenth congress, in the last moments of the session, when all 
business was over, William Bibb of Georgia, moved that the 
members of the House of Representatives would appear at their 
next meeting clothed in the manufactures of their own country. 
A spirited debate arose over this motion and it appearing that 
considerable warmth was likelv to be engendered upon a matter 
which was really foreign to the business of the session, the 
motion was withdrawn without being pressed to a \ote. 

In the large cities the people formed associations which they 
called societies for the encouragement of domestic manufactures. 
Each man and woman who joined one of these was pledged to 
wear no garment of which the raw material was not grown and 
the fabric made within the boundaries of the United States. 
The State legislatures of the various states took up the subject. 
The House of Representatives of Pennsylvania passed a resolu- 
tion declaring it to be the duty of everv citizen to encourage 
domestic manufjictures of this country, antl that members should 
come to the next session clothed in goods of American make. 
In Kentucky Henry Clay was the mover of a similar resolution 
which Humphrev Marshall designated as the trick of a dema- 
gogue. For this he was called out, a duel fought and both he 
and Clay were slightlv wounded. 

In November of the same vear Thomas Jefferson, President 
of the United States, desirous of ai^j^earing at the White House 
on New Years dav with a suit of clothes of American manufac- 
ture sent the Collector of Customs of New Haven the following- 
order : 

' Homespun is become the spirit of the times. I think it a useful one, there- 
fore that it is a duty to encourat^e it by example. The best thie ch.lh made in 
the United States I am told i.s at the manufactory of Col. Hum])hreys. Send me 
enough for a suit.' — A/r.l/ns/t'rs //istorv of the P('op!e of tJic Untied Sfafes. 

Col. Humphievs alluded to in this order had been an x'\ide 
of Washingtf)n and a representative of this Government to the 
Coiu't of Spain, and while there, conceived the idea of importing 
into this coimtrv the fine merino sheep for their superior wool. 
The sheep about 1802 came into the coimtry, some of them find- 
ing their way to Watertown. Col. Humphreys established a 
w<-)olen mill at the present town of Sevmour, tlien known as 
Humnhrevsville. The General Court of Connecticut appointed 
a committee to examine the experiment of Humphrevs and 
report. The report was so flattering that the legislature thanked 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 145 

him for his patriotic efforts, exempted his mills from taxation for 
ten years, and his workmen and apprentices from poll taxes, 
road taxes and service in the militia. 

The grist mill and saw mill were the natural pioneers in the 
new settlement, as at that time the grain was ground at P'arm- 
ington and the lumber which went into the construction of their 
buildings was sawed in the Farmington mills and transported to 
the new settlement. To save this expense numerous grist and 
saw mills were erected in different parts of the new town as 
needs of the people required. 

The first grist mill in the settlement of Northbury was built 
by John Sutliff", about 1730, just north of the present Terry's 
Bridge. Mr. Sutliff' came from Branford to Northbury the year 
just mentioned. In his will, which was admitted to probate in 
Woodbury, November 6, 1752, he provided that this mill 
property should go to his two sons, John, Jr. and Abel, reserv- 
ing to his widow, Hannah, one-third part of the profit of the toll 
of the mill during her life. 

John, Ji-. lived on the site of Wm. A. Leigh's present 
residence. He bought out Abel's interest in the mill property 
afterwards, and in his will, which was probated at VVaterbury, 
March 2, 1790, he demised one-third part of the grist and saw 
mill to each of his three sons, John, Samuel, and Daniel. 

John, the 3d, lived where Edward Moses' house now stands. 

It is somewhat remarkable that the first industry of which 
we can get a very clear record as having been started in PI3'- 
mouth proved to be the one which eventualh' grew to be largest 
in the town and obtained the widest celebrity. I reler to the 
business of clock making. The inventive genius of Eli Terry 
coupled with the business energy of Seth Thomas prepared a 
Ibuiidation for a business of gigantic proportions ; brought an 
accumulation of wealth to their doors and crystallized their 
names in the two main villages of the town as Terryville and 
Thomaston. 

There were a few clock makeis in New England prior to 
1776. Very few American clocks however, can be found, made 
before this time. These were made wit.i a pendulum forty 
inches in length and were only adapted to a long case standing 
on the floor with a dial six feet from the floor. Very few 
wooden clocks were made before 1792. 

Eli Terry, a native of East Wmdsor, now South Windsor, 
Conn., obtained a knowledge of clock making under Thomas 
Harland, a clock and watch maker of Norwich, Conn. Mr. Terry 
made his first wooden clock in 1792. He came to Plymouth in 
1793 and entered upon the business of makmg clocks, both of 
wood and brass. He made his first clocks by hand on the 
premises where William White's house now stands. Byron 
Tuttle has in his office at the present time one of the clocks built 
there. His first clocks built bv the use of power were made in a 
building where Riley Marsh's now stands. The water was con- 
veyed across the street from Niagara brook. The demand for 
clocks at that time was so limited that only three or four could 



146 HIS'JOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 

safely be commenced at one time, and most of these were delivered 
to purchasers who had agreed in advance to take them. These 
clocks were transported on horseback. The case for these w^as 
obtained from cabinet makers as a separate part of the clock. 
The machinery was very scanty, and consisted mainly of a hand 
engine for making the wheels similar to the one used by English 
clock makers two hundred years earlier. In 1S03, Mr. Terry, 
finding that his clocks could be sold without his delivering them 
in person, made provision for manufacturing on a larger scale, 
availing himself of additional machinery and water power. This 
was the beginning of making clocks bv the thousand. The large 
scale upon which he began to branch out exposed him to much 
ridicule, as the wise ones said he could never sell any number of 
them. 

In December 30, 1S07, Mr. Terry sold his water power to 
Heman Clark who had been his apprentice and purchased a water 
power and buildings at Greystone. In 1S07 he began the making 
of four thousand clocks on contract as one undertaking. This 
contract covered a period of four years. In 1814 the short shelf 
clock was devised by Mr. Terry and he began their manufacture 
in Plvmouth Hollow near Terry's bridge, having formed a 
partnership with his sons, Henry and Eli. The introduction of 
this shelf clock was the real foundation of the clock industry of 
this country. Henry Terry, son of Eli, continued the clock 
making business in this factory for a number of years, and then 
began the woolen business in the same factory, which he con- 
ducted for some time. He died in 1877- 

In 1S24 Eli Terry, 3d, built a shop on the Pequabuck where 
the shop formerly owned and occupied by the Lewis Lock Com- 
pany stood, which shop was destroyed by fire in 18=51, and 
replaced by the present one. Mr. Terry at this time, twenty- 
five years old, was the eldest of four sons of Eli Terry above 
referred to. He died in 1841 at the age of forty-two, having 
accumulated bv strict attention to business a handsome property. 
Silas Burnham Terry, a younger brother of Eli, 2d, erected a 
shop in 1 82 1 for the manufacture of clocks at the confluence of 
the Pequabuck and Poland brooks. In 1852 he invented the 
' Torsion Balance Clock' designed for a cheap clock, and a Joint 
stock company was formed to manufacture this clock, and a new 
factory was built near the depot. This clock did not prove a 
success and the company abandoned the business. 

In Chauncev Jerome's History of the American Clock lousi- 
ness written in i860, he savs of Eli Terry the elder that ' he was 
a great man, a natural philosopher and almost an Eli Whitney 
in mechanical ingenuity. If he had turned his mind towards a 
military profession he would have made another General .Scott; 
or towards politics another Jefierson, or if he had not happened 
to have gone to the town of Plvmouth I do not believe theie 
would ever have been a clock made there.' 

Seth Thomas commenced to manufacture clocks in company 
with Eli Terrv and Silas Hoadlev in 1809 at Greystone. In 1810 
Mr. Terry sold out his interest, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Floadley 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. I47 

continuing together until 1813, when Mr. Thomas removed to 
Plymoutli Hollow and began there the manufacture of clocks in 
a small building which he purchased of Heman Clark as above 
referred to, which Mr. Clark had erected in 1S09. This build- 
ing stood on the site where the case department of the company 
now stands. In 1S53 the Seth Thomas Clock Company was 
organized. Mr. Thomas began the industry in Plymouth Hol- 
low with about twenty hands, settlement with the operatives at 
that time being made once a year. In the early days of clock 
making in Plymouth, after the industry obtained some magnitude, 
the clocks were drawn by horses to New Haven and Hartford 
for shipment to different parts of the country. All of the lumber 
and materials for the clocks were brought from these two cities. 
Mr. Benjamin Piatt, now living, began driving team for Mr. 
Thomas in 1S34. He tells me that frequently he had to make 
three trips a week to New Haven, a greater part of the time 
driving six horses. The business so successfully established by 
him over eighty years ago has continued as the main industry of 
that part of the town ever since, employing in flourishing times 
about i,300 operatives with a monthly pay roll of about forty 
thousand dollars, and an annual production of nearly one million 
dollars' worth of goods. In 1834 Mr. Thomas built a cotton 
factory near the covered bridge, which was subsequently sold to 
the clock company, and he also built the brass mill near the 
depot about 1852 which is now owned by the Plume & Atwood 
Manufacturing Company. He died in 1859, having left as a 
monument to his memory these three large and flourishing insti- 
tutions, themselves emphatic witnesses to his indomitable will 
and untiring energy, and with a reputation unsurpassed for strict 
business integrity and business honor. 

Chauncey Jerome, whom I have quoted, at one time became 
very prominent in the clock business. He began work with 
Eli Terry in Pl3mouth in 18 16. A year or two later he began 
for himself, buying the movements and fitting up the cases for 
them. He removed to Bristol in 182 1 and continued the enter- 
prise there. In 1844 he went into business in New Haven and 
organized the Jerome Mfg. Co., which was finally succeeded by 
the New Haven Clock Co. Mr. Henry Terry says of Mr. 
Jerome in his Early History of American Clockmaking, 'he was 
a man of considerable enterprise but by misplaced confidence in 
other men and by a disregard of rules of safety in pecuniary 
transactions he became bereft of his estate.' 

In 1832 Stephen C. Bucknell, a locksmith, came from 
England and settled in Watertown. After continuing in busi- 
ness in a small way for a time, he sold out to Lewis McKee & 
Co., of Terry ville. They moved the works into a building 
standing where the plant of the Eagle Lock Company formerly 
stood. 

This building was burned in 1859 and replaced by a larger 
one. The progress of this company was slow, as the equipment 
of machinery was crude and the facilities for turning out and 
marketing the goods were few. They had no engine lathes for 



1^8 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

years and no plane for nearly thirty years. Their dies were 
forged by hand and faced by hand files. In disposing of their 
goods they met with difiiculties. Trade at that time was almost 
exclusively in the hands of importers and their interests lay in 
discouraging American manufacturers. In 1S41 Mr. Terry, 
the president, died and the concern was sold out to John G. 
Lewis and Sereno Gaylord. In 1S49 Mr. Lewis died, and the 
Lewis Lock Company was formed to carry on the business. In 
the meantime William McKee & Co. had embarked in the lock 
business at Terryville, and sold out in 1846 to James Terr}' and 
\Vm. McKee under the name of James Terry & Co. In 1854 ^'^^ 
two companies were united under the name of the Eagle Lock 
Company, with a capital stock of $85,000, which has from time 
to tiuie been increased from the surplus until it reached $37=^,000. 
This company under the management of James Terry, its first 
president, became eminently successful, and from that time to 
the present has been one of the most successful of Connecticut's 
industries, reflecting credit upon its management, yielding hand- 
some returns to its stockholders, and being the mainstay largely 
of the pecuniary interests oi" the village. 

About 1847, Andrew Terry, second son of Eli Terr}', 2d, 
built the foundry near the depot in Terryville for the manufacture 
of malleable iron castings, continuing in business alone until 
i860, when he associated O. D. Hunter and the late R. D. H. 
Allen with liimself, and formed a Joint stock company with a 
capital of $16,000, under the name of Andrew Terry & Co. 
Mr. Terry enlisted in the army in 1861, leaving the management 
of the business to his associates, and ten years later he sold out 
his interests in the concern and went to Kansas. Mr. N. Taylor 
Baldwin and Mr. J. W. Clark were admitted to the company, 
Mr. Baldwin retaining his connection with tlie business until his 
death, and Messrs. Hunter and Clark still remaining in the 
active management of the concern. This company has always 
been characterized by a conservative yet energetic management 
and has proved very successful as a business enterprise. 

In 1862 Eli Terry, the youngest son of Eli Terry, 2d, manu- 
factured clock springs in the shop near the bridge, built by 
S. B. Terry, and shortly after, the Inventors' Mfg. Co. managed 
by A. C. Felton of Boston, with S. W. Valentine resident agent, 
bought the factory for the manufacture of shears. The company 
was not successful, and in a short time was wound up. Since 
that time the property has been owned by William Wood and 
used as a shear factory. 

About 186^ the Eagle Bit & Buckle Co. was formed for the 
manufacture of harness trimmings and conducted the business in 
the shop below the depot originally built for the clock business. 
The U. S. Government soon after tliis time threw upon the 
market an immense amount of harness material at such prices as 
destroyed the market and the company went out of business. 

A chair siiop stood at one time on the east side of the stream 
near the old upper lock shop. The dam was some fifty feet 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



[49 



south of the present one and the building was used hiter for a 
bhacking shop by lock makers. 

Ralph Fenn made chairs, spinning wheels and reels in the 
building above alluded to, and many of these articles are in 
existence to-day branded ' R. F.' About 1S50 a hammer shop 
existed at Allentown where they made cast iion hammers. 

Timothy Atwater was interested in the business. The build- 
ing was later destroyed by hre. Nails in those days were made 
by hand, and sold by count. Jason C. Fenn has on exhibition 
at this celebration, the hammer used by Randall Matthews, one 
of the old nail makers. 

The house in which Cyrus P. Gaylord now lives was built 
by his grandfather Cyrus in 1795. He also erected a building 
close by the house for spinning and weaving wool, also another 
building for carding, fulling and dressing cloth, which business 
was afterward conducted by Sextus and Joseph Gaylord. 

Wool used to be brought from a long distance to be treated 
at this mill. The fulling process consisted of taking the cloth 
after being woven by the women and beating it in water for two 
or three days by machinery ; it was then hung in the sun to dry 
and shrink, thus making it tightly woven, then it was colored an 
indigo blue or black, after which a nap was raised upon the cloth 
by the use of teasels, the nap then being sheared smothly off by 
machinery and the cloth was subjected to a heavy pressure leav- 
ing it smooth and finished. 

Cyrus P. Gaylord will exhibit at Terr\ville to-morrow the 
cannon ball used by his grandfather for giinding the indigo, also 
the siiearing machine and press irons. 

The elder Cyrus Gaylord above alluded to, at one time also 
did carding in a building near the dam now standing on the 
same stream a short distance from his house, Josiah Kimberly 
at the same time using a part of the building foi- a tannery. 

Somewhat later ]Mr. Kim1)erly had a tannery on the same 
stream between the grist mill and .Stephen Blake's. This tan- 
nery was afterwards conducted by Eber Kimberly. 

Horace Munson between 1S40 and iS^o had a sash and 
blind factory on what is now known as the Stephen Blake 
property. 

Lvunan Preston, father of [unius Preston, now living, in 
181^ built a carding machine and ran a carding mill on the 
premises afterward owned by vStephen Blake, He subsequently 
sold out the business to Chauncey Barnes. In iSiS Mr. Preston 
built a grist mill, a little north of the carding mill, which grist 
mill has been in operation ever since, now being owned by 
Mr. Christian Michael. 

Mrs. Junius Preston relates that she remembers Mr. Preston 
wearing a queue which he dressed with a ribbon on Sundays, 
and which always amused the young people who sat behind him 
in church. He was initiated into Aurora Lodge of Masonry at 
Harwinton in iSii and was exalted to the degree of Royal Arch 
Mason In 1816. 

Between sixty and seventy years ago Willis Hinman built a 



150 HISTORY OF PI.YMOUTH. 

shop by the old marsh to manufacture clock cases. He subse- 
quently sold out the business to Burton Payne who conducted it 
for some time, he adding wagon building to the industry for a 
little while. Some years later William Yale & Sons manufac- 
tured toy wheell)arrows at the same plant for a time. 

About iSio Gains Fenn, uncle of Jason C. Fenn, took out 
a patent on block tin faucets, and they were manufactured in a 
two story building on Town Hill which stood about fifty feet 
south of Mr. Fenn's present residence The business was after- 
wards moved to New Hayen and thence to New York where a 
thriving business was carried on down to 1S57. The same faucet 
practically is now manufactured by Landers, Frary & Clark, of 
New Britain, under the trade mark of 'Fenn.' Pewter tumblers 
were also made at one time on Town Hill, as well as round 
picture and looking glass frames and candlesticks. It is also 
reported that there was once a peach vat in this same section 
where men with boots, made for that purpose, used to tread the 
juice out of the peaches for peach brandy. 

Joel Griggs in the early part of the '20's manufactured carts 
and plows in a building about ten rods east of the residence of 
Oliver Smith, on the opposite side of the street. He conducted 
this business until about 1852. 

Theophihis M. Smith, father of Oliver and Miles Smith, 
came from Milford about iSo^. He lived in the house once 
standing between Oliver Smith's late residence and John Burr's. 
The chimne}' is still standing there. He had a shoe shop in the 
rear, the old stone chimney of which is also now standing. He 
began the tanning business about 1820, twenty rods southwest of 
John Burr's house, continuing the business until about 183^, 
when he was succeeded by Miles Smith who continued it until 

A hat shop formerly owned by Ozias Goodwin in about 
1800 stood on the premises where the ice house now stands near 
the entrance to Shelton & Tuttle's carriage premises. This shop 
is mentioned in the survey of the east middle turnpike from 
Poland Bridge to Woodbury line which was made about 1S04. 
Henry C. Smith, somewhere in the '20's, began the clock busi- 
ness in a sliop in the rear of what is now the A. C. vShelton resi- 
dence. He failed in business about 1S37. William A. Smith, 
brother of Henry, carried on the harness business in a building 
that once stood on the site of the present town builtling. His 
shop was afterwards moved to the rear of the present store of 
Beach & Blackmcr. 

Zaimon and Samuel Coley were the first carriage makers in 
town. Their shop stood in the yard east of B}'ron Tuttle's pres- 
ent residence. The shop was afterwartls moved and part of it is 
now owned by Enos Blakeslee. The main shop now owned by 
Enos Blakeslee was built by Coley, Bradley & Co., about 1S36. 
The partners were Zaimon Coley, Lucius Bradley, Joel Blakes- 
lee and Hart Fenn ; the latter being the father of W^allace B. 
Fenn and Mr. Wardwell's first wife. Coley, Bradley & Co. 
failed about 1840. They built most of their work for the southern 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 151 

market and had a repository at Tuscaloosa, Ala. L. F. Comstock 
and James Bishop succeeded Coley, Bradley & Co. about 1S50 
and tailed in 1S61 or 1S62. Blakeslee & Boland carried on the 
business for two or three years, Boland then selling cut to 
Blakeslee. 

Augustus C. Shelton commenced carriage making in the 
building in W. H. Tuttle's present yard about 1S37, building 
and enlarging from time to time The shop now standing was 
built about 1S44. The large shop was taken down and moved 
in 1852. Blacksmith shop and engine room burned down in 
1858, were rebuilt and burned again in 1894. Byron Tuttle 
entered the employ of Mr. Shelton August 26, 1847, for $13 per 
month and board. The next three years he worked for $1.00 
per day and board January i, 1S55, he was taken into partner- 
ship with one-halt interest. Their trade originally was with the 
southern market. From 1854 to i860 every can iage was sold 
through their house at Chicago. Their western business proved 
a great success owing to large advance in price of their 
goods. 

In 1S64 they built a repository on Madison stieet, Chicago, 
which they occupied until April i, 1S70, when the business 
declining the building was disposed of and the partnership so 
far as the manufacturing was concerned was dissolved. From 
that time forward Mr. Shelton carried on the business in a limited 
way until his death in 1S80. 

David Shelton started a carriage business about 1S50 in a 
shop recently occupied by William H. Tuttle. He moved to 
New Haven in 1S74. Joel Blakeslee & Son began a carriage 
business in the brick shop now standing about 1S56 or there- 
abouts, continuing until about 1865. 

The lather-in-law of Elizur Fenn, together with Freeman 
Cook and VVyllvs Atwater, made the brick for the Andrew Terry 
& Co.'s Iron Fonndry. Their yard was about a mile north 
from Terryville. A small shop used to stand opposite the 
Niagara shop, the water being carried across the street. Heman 
Clark made clocks there. 

Stephen Talmadge, brother of Amzi, at one time owned the 
place opposite Geo. E. Shelton's, where William R. White lives, 
and had a hat shop there. He afterwards carried on the same 
business in a shop which stood between the present Episcopal 
parsonage and Mrs. Pierpont's house. This shop was after- 
wards moved to the place where Mrs. James Smith lives and 
now forms part of the house. He subsequently moved his hat 
business to the premises where Frank Blakeslee now lives and 
died there. Captain Dai row at one time made coifins on the 
premises just west of Abel Beardsley's. Walker Plumb had a 
cabinet shop in the building where for years Mrs. Huldah Warner 
carried on the millinery business. My earliest recollection of 
that corner repaints the vivid colors of Aunt Huldah's millinery 
store, with its front windows illumined with the gaily decorated 
hats and bonnets which she trimmed in the most esthetic style. 
Col. Theophilus M. Smith at one time carried on tanning and 



153 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

currying south of the tiunpike on Hancock Brook, about hall' a 
mile east from Plymouth Center. 

Somewhere in the '40's James Warner, 2d, and his son, 
William B., built the red shop half way between the center and 
Thomaston where they carried on for years the business of sash 
and blind making. I think he was succeeded by Edward Parker, 
who conducted a number of enterprises there in a small way, 
such as making vises, button hole scissors, garden rakes, etc. 
In 1S75 Augustus E. Blakeslee and Eugene Grant carried on the 
shear business there. 

Jude Blakeslee, the great-grandfather of Bela B. Satterlee, 
as early as 1772 conducted a tannery in Plymouth Hollow in the 
old building, part of which is still standing at the fork of the 
roads leading to VVaterburv and Litchheld. His son Bela 
Blakeslee afterwards conducted the same business there. A tan- 
nery at one time existetl at the brow of Castle Hill opposite the 
Cornelius Stoughton place, J. C. Usher was the proprietor. 
One Melcher fonnerly had a shop standing between John Chase's 
and C. Beardsley's residences where he made clocks. A cider 
mill also once stood in the same vicinity. 

Nathan Tolles, who recently died at New Britain, had a 
shop at the John Taylor place near Dan Carter's where he made 
parts of clocks. He sold out to William Hoadley, brother of 
Silas Hoadley, who conducted the same business until about 
1836, when the property was sold to Heman Welton, who made 
furniture knobs and bungs for ovster kegs, the latter occupation 
giving the name of Bungtown to that settlement. 

Jacob N. Blakeslee had a flax mill near Morris Humiston's 
present farm aliout 1S2S, and also had a small linseed oil mill. 
A little later he removed his mill to a spot about twenty rods 
below James Roberts' residence where he could get more power. 
Thomas Fenn later had a shingle mill at the same location, In 
the winter of 1838, Russell Reynolds, father of Henry P., built 
a lime kiln near Jericho Bridge on the west side of the river. 

In 1S37 or 1838 Bela B. Blakeslee carried on brick making 
in Plymouth Hollow. He was succeeded by Eli Barnes, and he 
in turn by his brother Selden Barnes. The property afterwards 
was purchased by Edson Thomas, who conducted the business 
for a number of years. 

John Wiard, now living in Plainville, built the 'Stucco' 
House on road leading to VVolcott, and also built a shop where 
he manufactured sash and blinds. South of this place was 
another water power where in the '40's John and Punderson 
Mansfield carried on business in wood-work of some kind. 
A Mr. Gibbs was afterwards taken into the firm. They were 
succeeded by Wilson G. Bradley, who made well curbs and 
buckets and did general jobbing in wood work. 

About 1840 Israel B. and Andrew E. Woodward started a 
tannery at Plymouth Hollow near the covered bridge. They 
carried on a prosperous business for forty or more years. 

On the stream which now serves as the outlet for the Thom- 
aston reservoir, Riley Ives at one time maile parts of toys which 



CENTENVIAI. CELEBRATION. 



3.5 



he shipped to Bridgeport for sale. Further down the same 
stream Ransom Santord about 1840 had a small shop where he 
turned brass pinions and barrels for Seth Thomas clock move- 
ments and made clock keys also. Still further down the same 
stream he built a grist mill in 1845, which he ran till 1877. 
During part of this time he made clock verges for Samuel San- 
ford in the same building. 

In 1S33 or '33 Marvin and Ed\\ard Blakeslee built the tac- 
tory at Heathen ville for a clock factory. Jerome Woodrud" 
afterwards made pianos there for a time, and the organ now in 
St. Peter's church was built there by a man named McCullom. 
Thus showing that a heathen county may be made instrumental 
in praising the Lord. Dr. Carrington and George Lamb after- 
wards made spools and thiead in the same factory, and spooled 
thread there for a short time, when they moved to Waterbur^-. 
Charles Johnson, b: other of Horace Johnson, late of VVaterbury, 
the portrait painter, made machinery there somewhat latei". 
Nelson Bradley made clock verges there for about one year. 

In the early part of the century William Pierpont, uncle of 
Rev. John Pierpont, the poet, and father of Mrs. Huldah Warner, 
ran a mill for making cloth, on road to Noithfield. Somewhere 
in the '20's Meigs Allen put in the hist power loom in this part 
of the country on road to Northfield near present residence of 
Caleb Humiston. He ran it as a cloth mill for som6 \ears. 
A little north of this, William Huntington, father of C. P. Hunt- 
ington, ran a carding mill and dressed cloth in fore part of the 
'30's, afterwards Gilbei t Fox and Dan Catlin manufactured ri\ ets, 
the first concern of its kind in the country, and did quite a large 
business. Edward Guernsey and Dan Catlin afterwards manu- 
factured tobacco in a part of the same building. Van Housen 
ran a shingle mill about the same time on the site of Caleb 
Humiston's saw mill. From 1835 for a few years Z. WHiitlock 
& Son ran a hoe and pitchfork factory in the same vicinity. 

Benjamin Smith built the shop and dam now owned by 
T. J. Bradstreet on the road to Northfield, and at present 
operated as a saw mill, about 1S30, and made plows. He also 
made several kinds of iron castings. The frames for the doors 
in cemetery vaidt at Plvmouth were cast there. He was 
succeeded bv G. Nelson Bradlev, who made clock verges and 
other parts of the movements for two or three years. William 
Warner afterwards made sash and blinds there. Warner was 
succeeded by Samuel Sanford who made clock trimmings for 
about fifteen years. T. J. Bi-adstreet has owned the property 
for several years using it as a grist and saw mill. 

Anson Beecher, father of L. Wheeler Beecher, now living 
at Westville, Conn., lived and owned a mill property on the 
main road to Litchfield, and near the Litchfield line. Seventy 
years or more ago he braided the first straw hat made in this 
country and taught several women how to make straw hats. 
He also invented some machinery for making hats, but did not 
follow hat making as a business. His main business was making 
lumber, lath and shingles, until sometime between 1840 and 



1^4 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

iS^o, when he sold his mill and bought another factory property 
on the same stream of water but a little nearer Plymouth Hollow. 
The present dam for the reservoir supplying Waterbury with 
water is but a few rods down the stream from where this factory 
stood and the water now covers the old site many feet deep. At 
this factory in 1S50, Anson Beecher, in connection with his son 
Ebenezer B. Beecher, invented and began building match mak- 
ing machinery, and in 1853 commenced the manufacture of 
matches. A few years later this business was removed to West- 
ville in the town of New Haven. From that time the match 
business has been rapidly extended, and the firm of A. Beecher 
& Sons merged with other concerns and now called the Diamond 
ISIatch Co., has its factories all over the United States, and are 
now building in England. This company has a capital of eleven 
millions of dollars. Anson Beecher died April 7, 1S76, in the 
seventy-first year of his age, at Westville. The machines now 
used by the Diamond Company are mainly the in\entions from 
time to time of Anson Beecher and A. Beecher & Sons. A letter 
from L. Wheeler Beecher conveying the above information to 
me concludes with the statement ' that I will discover that one 
industry started so long ago in old Plvmouth has not vet died 
out.' 

Robert and Henry Hotchkiss made clock cases for Henry 
Smith in a shop about one-half the distance between the house 
of James Roberts and his present mill. They suspended work 
about 1S46. 

Where James Roberts now lives on the Branch Stream, 
Dennis Smith about the same time carried on the wool carding 
business and cloth dressing. The Litchfield turnpike was not 
then open, and people had to pass over the hill in a line about 
due north from the present dwelling of Edward Morse. The 
work performed in those davs bv the carding mill was to card 
the wool and make it into rolls. The farmer then took the rolls 
home and the good housewife made it into cloth, which was taken 
back to the mill to be sheared and pressed and dyed. At that 
time calico, all of which was imported, cost about thirty cents a 
yard, making it too expensive for use, and linen and wool con- 
stituted the almost exclusive material for garments for all mem- 
bers of the family. 

About a half a mile below the mill of Dennis Smith, George 
Blakeslee built a saw mill, where Joseph Newell's mill now 
stands. Ransom .Sutlifie afterwards owned the mill, and he was 
in turn succeeded bv Miles Morse & Bros. About 1S33, George 
Jones and Garrett S. Blakeslee built a wagon factory at the site 
where the American Knife Co.'s works were afterward located. 
Thev manufactured the most expensive carriages of the day for 
the southern market. Other parties were afterward taken into 
the firm and in a few vears the company failed. In 1S41 Mr. 
Miles Morse began the manufacture of brass clocks at the same 
location, having as a partner Jeremiah Blakeslee. This business 
continued until 1849, when tlie factory was sold to the American 
Knife Co. for the manufacture of pocket cutlery. In 1850 INIr. 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 1 55 

JMorse and Gen. Thomas A. Davis of New York City, built 
another clock factor}' on the West Branch of the Naugatuck and 
continued the clock business until they were burned out in Jan- 
uary, 1855. 

Mr. Morse and Mr. George B. Pierpont conducted tor many- 
years the Pocket Cutlery^ business in the factory already alluded 
to, under the name of the American Knife Co., Mr. Pierpont 
retaining an active interest in its management until the close of 
his life. This plant is still used for making pocket cutlery, hav- 
ing passed through various hands into the ownership of Frank 
■Catlin of Northfield. 

Watertown, formerly Westbury, had in the early part of the 
century but little water power, and consequently manufacturing 
did not form so important a feature as in the other parts of the 
town. At one time a large and flourishing grist and saw mill 
was owned and managed by James Merwin on the site now- 
occupied by A. N. Woolson. This property at one time was 
owned by Jeremiah Peck, who subsequently moved to North- 
field. He purchased tlie property October 24, 1S36, of Friend 
Davis and sold the same to the Watertown Manutacturing Co., 
April, 1S50, and thev afterwards conveyed it to Everett & 
Davis, who manufactured umbrella trimmings and mouse 
traps. After some vears the propeity was sold to A. N. 
Woolson, who has since conducted the same business with 
good success. vSome thirtv lods below this site, al)out eighty 
years ago, Timothy Steele formed a partnership with one 
Sedgewick to carrv on the wool carding business, which busi- 
ness lasted but a short time. Some vears later the Watertown 
Silk Co. began business upon the same location and was vmsuc- 
cessful, and the buildings were destroyed by lightning. 

At the foot of the hill on tlie road leading to Thomaston, 
Daniel Woodward built a tannery which was soon sold to the 
Watertown Leather Co., who manufactured, for a short time, 
gloves and mittens. At the present time the plant is used by 
Arthur Fox as a wood turning factory. Forty rods below this 
site General M. Hemingwav established the M. Hemingway & 
Sons Silk Co., to manufacture sewing silk, which subsequently 
grew into a large and prosperous business. A few years ago 
Buel Hemingwav, one of the General's sons, organized a com- 
panv known as Hemingway & Bartlett, for the manufacture of 
sewing silk, and built a large factorv near the railroad station. 
These two factories at the present time form the principal manu- 
facturing industry of that town and are doing a large business. 

About half a mile below the silk mills Leverett Candee & 
Son some twentv-five vears ago built a v\'ool carding mill. 
Afterwards this site was purchased by the Wheeler & Wilson 
Sewing Machine Co., who began the making of sewing machines, 
but the need of additional power and room and reduction in 
freights induced the company to abandon the business and move 
to Bridgeport. 

About 1825 James Bishop and L. B. Bradley established 
and conducted for a few vears the business of making wood 



1^6 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

clocks. They employed for a time quite a number of operatives. 
Their capital was small however, and the entire property with 
the machinery and tools having been destroyed by fire, after 
running for a few years the business terminated. During their 
stay in Watertown Jacksonianism flourished and they arranged 
the first political banquet ever held in the town. No ladies were 
invited and it is reported that the patriots had a ' rip roaring 
time' The onl}' other industry which 1 will mention in this 
part of ancient Plymouth was a hat shop which was built in the 
early part of the century by Alanson Warren on the site now 
occupied by William Wood as a residence. He did a good 
business for some years. 

The foregoing, ladies and gentlemen, covers in a rambling 
and lunried manner the manufacturing interests of our town 
from its inception to the present time as far as I have been able 
to gather. Many mistakes will doubtless be found to exist, both 
as regards location and dates, and probalily many industries have 
been overlooked. I fear, however, that I have already wearied 
you by too lengthy an address upon a subject natuially some- 
what dry and possibly to many of you uninteresting. 

I think we can as citizens of this honored town find much 
cause for gratification in the thought that our ancestry, who 
occupied these hills and valleys, were men and women of indus- 
trious and enterprising traits of character, who made the most of 
their resources and left to their descendants the heritage of an 
honorable and useful life." 

Mr. Pond — After listening to this able address by Judge 
Bradstreet, if there is a full-blooded, native born citizen of this 
town that does not feel proud of his nati\e town clear down to 
the bottom of his heart, I am sorry for him. Why, it appears 
that we have manuftctured nearly everything under Heaven 
from straw hats to bungs, and what in the world shall we do in 
the next hundred years.'* W^e are only a hundred years old and 
all that to our credit. I notice that we have with us in the 
audience a gentleman who represents the town from which Ply- 
mouth was set off — Watertown — and we should very much like 
to hear what he has to say of this town of Plymouth. I will call 
upon Heniv T. Dayton of Watertown, to give us a few remarks. 

Henry T. Dayton — (Mr. Dayton on stepping to the platform 
first took a drink, which created some amusement in the 
audience). He said : "We came dry and have grown dryer. 
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : There is only one reason 
that I know of to-night for my appearing before von, and that is 
that the town of Watertown mav be represented here. I do not 
know that there is any one else here from Watertown. If there 
is I wish he would rise and I will immediately take my seat. Is 
there one here? I come before you very proud because I can 
call vou children, grandchiklren, great-grandchildren, and I pre- 
sume great-great-grandchildren, and as I look over this sea of 
faces may I not be proud to think that they are our children, 
although your mother was young, younger than you would like 
to have your daughter married and sent away from home. I am 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 157 

sure as we have heard the acUhess that has been delivered here 
and see what this town has done, we cannot Hnd much fault. 
I was struck with the remarks of our worthy chairman. 
I v^^ondered what the rest of the world has created if the town of 
Plymouth in one hundred years had manufactured all these 
articles, and I presume the half of them have not been told. It 
is a mistake that 1 am before }Ou. The chairman of the com- 
mittee of three who were asked to do a little something in the 
line of reviewing here has been called away, and a day or two 
ago I received a line from one of the committee, asking if we 
would have some one there to speak. We have been gathering 
curiosities for the exhibition. 1 said I would go and 1 am here 
as one of those antique things that has grown up from the past. 

We are welcomed to-night to participate in Plymouth's cen- 
tennial, and your cordial words of greeting help to paint for us a 
picture on the distant horizon. We behold a fifteen-year-old 
mother parting from her infant child, mitigling tears of sorrow 
with tears of joy — of sorrow because ot the separation, and of 
joy because of the child's bright prospect in its new home. The 
daughter's name while under the paiental roof was Northbury, 
but when removal was deemed advisable, that name was changed 
to Plymouth, a name so suggestive of the landing of the Pilgrims 
and of their early struggles and successes on New England's 
rock-bound shore. And now we rejoice that our daughter has 
reached the mature age of one hundred years and that she wears 
her hoar}' hairs as a crown of glory. 

What, then, are we doing to-day .'' Mother Watertown is 
paying a visit to her first-born child on her hundredth birthday. 
The aged mother has driven up this steep ascent with the north- 
east wind in her face, in order to share in this joyous celebration, 
and to shout with all the rest, from far and near ; ' We heartily 
wish you many happy returns of the day.' The mother is glad 
to know that her daughter hns done well in life, is now in thrifty 
circumstances and has healthful and beautiful surroundings. 

A whole century has passed away I During that long 
period, how numerous and important liave been the changes! 
riien the iron horse had not invaded the foot of this hill ; then 
electricity had neither shed light on our way, nor brought us 
messages from absent friends ; tJicn many of the ordinary com- 
forts which we now enjoy in our homes, were undiscovered. 
It has certainly been a century of wonderful progress ; and the 
upward march is still being continued, for we observe the 
motto, 'Excelsior!' waving in the breeze and inviting to new 
endeavor and ever-increasing ])rosperity. 

A former pastor of this church, the Rev. E. B. Hiilard, 
said, some time before his death, ' The town of Plymouth was 
incorporated in 179S1 Northbmy society having first, with West- 
bury societv, become incorporated in the town of Wotertown. 
The ecclesiastical societies in each instance took the initial steps, 
so that the town was in each case an evolution from the society.' 

Therefore, as it was the religions society that made the first 
move, it is eminently appropriate that we meet this evening in a 



158 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

house of Divine worship, and it affords us pleasure that the 
religious life, as well as the civil, still exists and flourishes, and 
that the town authorities still desire to go onward hand in hand 
with the spiritual leaders in their endeavor to maintain that 
righteousness which exalteth a town, a state or a nation." 

Mr. Pond — I am sure we are very grateful to Mr. Dayton 
for his remarks. VVe will mark him "Exhibit A," and place 
him on exhibition in town hall in Terryville to-morrow with the 
other relics, at his request. Is there any one here from Water- 
bury ; will you say a word for Waterbury ? If there is we should 
be verv glad to hear from him. There are many here from 
Thomaston. Here is a whole seat full, and others are all 
scattered about. We should be glad to hear from Thomaston. 
I will call no names. Please volunteer. 

F. W. Etheridge — "Mr. Chairman, residents of Plymouth 
and friends: I suppose I stand here as ' Exhibit B,' represent- 
ing what has l)een called the baby town. I suppose that refers 
to that child that has so far outgrown its parent that it is now 
wearing the cut-over clothing. In behalf of the people of Thom- 
aston and the committee which I have the honor to represent, I 
desire to thank you for the most cordial, kindly greeting and 
welcome which you have extended to us on this memorable 
occasion. As citizens of the town of Thomaston it aflbrds us a 
large degree of pleasure to realize that we are kindred of the old 
town of Plymouth, which is just entering upon its second century 
of independent town government, after a career of prosperity of 
which its citizens may well feel proud. 

We are glad to be present at this celebration and review 
with you the many interesting, and to many of the younger por- 
tion of the community, surprising events of more or less promi- 
nence which have occurred within your territory since your 
incorporation as a town. In the history of many nations of the 
old world one hundred years is but a brief interval, but with us, 
when we realize that only a little over four hundred years ago 
Columbus titst set foot upon American soil, and that our Pilgrmi 
Fathers — those hardy pioneers who loved liberty better than life 
and who encountered every hardship and danger that they might 
enjoy religious freedom — first landed on the shores of New 
England in 1620, only 275 years ago, and that every improve- 
ment wrought by the hand or ingenuity of man in this great 
continent has been made since that time ; when we see these 
elegant structures, monuments of modern architectural skill, 
which adorn our cities and towns ; when we listen to the busy 
hum of thousands of looms, manufacturing cotton and woolen 
fabric formerly inade by the tireless housewife in ye olden times ; 
when we see our great cities teeming with people, ranking with 
the first cities of the world ; the broad farms of the great West, 
capable, under the manipulation of modern machinery, of furn- 
ishing food for nations, and the thousands of astonishing inven- 
tions and discoveries of recent years, all the work of less than 
three hundred years — one hundred years of that time looks quite 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



159 



diflerent to us, and we wonder how it has been possible to 
accomplish so much in so short a time. 

These changes, Mr. Chairman, have been wrought by just 
such men of integrity, industry, ability and perseverance as past 
history reveals to have been residents of this town, and their 
descendants are to-day scattered throughout this vast country, 
many of them a credit and honor to their Plymouth ancestrv, 
and they are equally with you proud of the old town which gave 
them or their forefathers birth. 

We congratulate you to-night on the rounding out and com- 
pletion of the century, the first hundred years ol an honorable 
record. We have a feeling of satisfaction as we meet with you 
heie that we are welcome, that our coming is a home coming, 
though we left the sheltering roof of the old homestead twenty 
vears ago against the wishes and earnest protests of the mother 
town, yet the people of Thomaston to-day still feel a deep 
interest in everything that pertains to the prosperity and welfare 
of Plymouth. As the youngest of the family, heir apparent to 
Plymouth, Watertown and a large slice of Waterbury ; as the 
nearest in point of location and the most closely identified with 
the business interests of this section of the town at least, we feel 
entitled to close and friendly relations with the mother town. 

We are glad that our family relations are so pleasant that 
Waterbury, our great-grandmother on her mother's side, is so 
well satisfied to expend such large sums of money to secure a 
water supply within our territory. We are equally glad that our 
reservoir is located in the town of Plymouth, though we earnestly 
wish it provided us better water in summer. We are thankful 
to Plymouth for the protection afforded ; we regret that the 
drinking supply brought over from Thomaston to Plymouth is 
not more satisfactory. This (pointing to the glass) was not 
from Thomaston, or our friend from Watertown would not have 
tasted it so quickh'. We can not account for this unsatisfactory 
thing except on the ground, Mr. Chairman, that it is unnatural 
for liquids to flow up hill, and to get up here it must come up 
considerable of a hill, and often, we notice, with considerable 
difficulty. 

Rich in historical interest and a pioneer in a number of 
manufacturing enterprises, which through years of persistent 
industry and ingenuity now furnish employment to skillful 
mechanics in many thriving towns, Plymouth has ever done her 
share in the advancement and prosperity of the country. 
Though having reached an advanced age, as reckoned in the 
annals of mankind, Plymouth is yet young, and in the possi- 
bilities of the future capable of attaining a yet grander record in 
the years to come, and while we extend to you our congratula- 
tions on the past, we earnestly hope that you may attain great 
honors and prosperity for the future. 

May the celebration of this anniversary, revealing so much 
that is new to the rising generation, furnish an additional impetus 
and materially assist in the onward progress of this community. 
Allow me, Mr. Chairman, to again thank vou for the most 



i6o 



HISTORY OF PIA'MOLTTH. 



cordial welcome which vou have extended to the people of our 
town." 

Mr. Pond — I am quite sure that this audience extends its 
thanks to ]Mr. Etheridge lor the kind words which he has 
otVered to-night. We have several letters of regret, one of which 
must be read, whether the others are or not, and I will read it 
with your permission now", as I know it will be of interest. 

WiNSTED, Conn , May 6tli, 1S95. 
Hon. Bvkon Tutti.e, Cliairman. Plymomh Centennial Coniniiitee, I'lynioutli, 
Conn. 

JA' Dear Sir: — A relative, who was an invalid and with whom I was 
hiought in fie(iuent contact, when a boy, used to say. in answer to inciiiiries as to 
his condition, that he enjoyed very poor jiealth. Unfortunately, such is not my 
state, for it is imjiossiljle, in this free country, for me to enjoy that which puts me 
under the domination of those despots, beneficent though they lie, called physi- 
cians and which deprives me of the long anticipated pleasure of being present at 
the opening ceremonies in Plymouth churcii of the centennial of our beloved 
town. As such howevei is the case, can you spare me a minute for a word of 
kindly greeting to my fellow townsmen, neighbors and friends, assembled to night 
in a place to which I am attached by so many cherished memories and associations. 

A residence of a score of years elsewhere has in no degree weakened but 
rather increased my love for the town where I was born, where a ipiarter century 
of my life was passed, where most of my living relatives resiileand where rest the 
ashes of my parents and kin. 

The six years, in which I was permitted to look out of my office window, on 
this church and on Plymouth green with its monument to the memory of its chil- 
dren who died in the defense of their countr}', will ever seem like an oasis in the 
tlesert, a green spot in the dry and arid journey of life. Tiie past few weeks of 
enforced idleness, from other things, iiave left my mind free to wander amid the 
scenes of the past, and it has done so constantly. As a result. I beg to bring you, 
to night, the greeting and tribute of a grateful child to a beloved mother. The 
century that is passed has brought results, the contemplation of which should fill 
our hearts with thankfulness. May Cod grant to this town a future worthy of 
that past, and may his richest blessing rest upon you all. 

Very trulv vours, 

AUG U.ST PS 11. FKXX. 

Mr. Pond — We will make this a sort of old-fashioned Meth- 
odist love feast. There are manv here to-night who have 
returned for this occasion and whom we should like to hear for 
just a few moments, perhaps ten minutes, and we wish to give 
them an opportunity. We want to hear them and we rather 
think they want to sav something, too. At any rate, I am going 
to .give you this invitation. Among those who are present I 
notice General Erastus Blakeslee, a native of Plvmouth, and I am 
sure ^ve should all be glad to hear a few \vords from him. Will 
he kindly respond.^ 

General Blakeslee — "ISR' dear friends — for I teel just that wav 
toward everv one here in this old home place of Plymouth. It is 
with something of the feeling which the ancient Jews had when 
thev went up to Jerusalem to the feasts, that I have come up 
here from Boston to this feast to-night. 

I am verv glad indeed for the history of the manufacturing 
interests of this town which has been made to us this evening. 
I shall be verv glad to-morrow to listen to a history of the other 
features of this town's life, which we all ought to listen to. 



CENTENNIAI, CEI,P:BR ATION . l6l 

I remember when I was a boy, perhaps ten or twelve years okl, 
going to a two days' celebration in the town of Litchfield — I think 
it was the centennial celebration of the organization ot Litchfield 
County. I remember nothing that was said there, almost nothing 
that was done, but I do remember a great impression that was 
made on my mind. It was this, that there was no such county 
on the face of the earth as the county of Litchfield, and that has 
never been rubbed out. Now, I wish that this celeljration of the 
centennial anniversary of the founding of the town of Plymouth 
might make such an impression as that on all these boys and 
young people who are here to-night, and I wish it for several 
reasons. 1 wish it because I want to cultivate in them love of 
country, true patriotism ; the feeling that we have here in this 
country something to be conserved, something to be preserved, 
something to be fought for if need be, and it is only as we take 
now and then a look backward, as we look over the history 
which our fathers have made for us and see what a precious 
heritage they have handed down to us, how they have loved and 
labored and toiled in the past, that they might hand over to us 
the things which we now enjoy — that we have deeply impressed 
upon us the value of these things and the dignity which we have 
come to in having them handed down to us. 

I am very thankful for a great many things here to-night. 
I am thankful that my great-great-great-grandfather, Deacon 
Moses Blakeslee, came to the town of Plymouth and located in 
1734. He was the patriarch of the Blakeslee tribe in Plymouth, 
and it has been a pretty respectable tribe among the tribes of this 
town. I have looked up the history of the family somewhat and 
find they were all men of industry, of honor, of honesty, of 
uprightness; they were good neighbors; they were members of 
the church ; they did their part in life well and truly, and I am 
thankful for them. I am thankful most of all for my father, Joel 
Blakeslee, whom you all or nearly all of you I know remember, 
and whom one beautiful winter's evening, under the glowing 
light of the setting sun, we buried over on the hillside yonder ; 
a man of such kindness and gentleness of spirit, such Christian 
character, such sweetness of disposition, such activity in every 
good word and deed that his memorv is blessed — all who ever 
knew him rise up and call him blessed. 

I am thankful for my mother, the dear woman, sufiering so 
much in these davs of her loneliness and sorrow, and waiting 
for the day of her translation. I am thankful for this church in 
which we meet. I remember how I stood nearer the pulpit than 
I am now, in front of the communion table, one Sunday after- 
noon, a boy in my teens, and confessed Christ as my Saviour. 
I remember how I sat back two-thirds of the wav that very 
Sunday, in that part of the house just yonder, and for the first 
time partook of the sacrament. I remember the first Sunday 
School class that I attended, sitting just about here in the front 
pew on that side, and I remember who my teacher was — a good 
woman whose memory is blessed. 

I am thankful, too, that I lived during the last half and a 



iSz IIISTORV OF PLYMOUTH. 

little more of the century which we are celebrating to-night. 
Of course we want all that we can get of the glory of this 
century's achievements, so I am going to claim about hfty-six 
years of it, and I am thankful that I ha\e lived in those fifty-six 
years, the fifty-six greatest years that the history of the world 
ever saw, the fiftv-six years in which has been fought out the 
great battle for liberty in this country, the fifty-six years in 
which the greatest progress in business, in enlargement of all 
sorts, has been made. What the next fifty-six years will pro- 
duce I do not know. If there is anything that I would like 
better than to have lived in the last fifty years, it would be to 
live in the next fifty years, I might as well say a hundred. The 
reason why I came to-night w'as that I was afraid I would not 
last till the next one. 

If we can, through this celebration, impress it upon the minds 
of the young people that their fathers have been wise, industrious, 
active, patient, noble, upright, sincere, honorable, useful Chris- 
tian men in all the century that is past, and they have handed 
down to their descendants the precious privilege of town organi- 
zation and government, of schools and business prosperity which 
are in this community ; the precious privilege of living in a 
New England town and breathing the pure air of these hills, 
they will love these things, and as the great whirlpools of the 
cities in these latter days draw them away from this hilltop and 
these valleys that are round about us and plant them in other 
places, they will look back with longing to this home oi' their 
childhood. Boys, if there is anything in the world to be glad 
for, it is for a noble heritage coming down to you from the j^ast, 
and if you can only catch something of that inspiration here 
to-night and to-morrow, the Lord will bless you in it. 

Now% I am thankful for the record which this town has 
made, for one thing, in the Civil War. Perhaps it is appropriate 
that I should speak of it. I remember boys who used to sit over 
here on benches and seats in the school house yondei', and boys 
who came from the school houses down in the valley, and from 
the eastern part of the town, and as I look over the list of their 
names and their deeds, I feel to rejoice in them for the things 
which they accomplished in the service ot their country. It is a 
noble thing to serve your country, to serve it in battle if need be, 
to serve it at the ballot-box, always voting for the things that are 
true and pure and right; always standing up for the right boldly, 
sincerely and honestly, not for parties because they are parties, 
but for the things tliat are pure and true and right, and that may 
be done in peace as w^ell as in war. 

I cannot stop to mention names to-night, but from these 
school houses, from these homes, from these hillsides and farm 
houses and factories there went forth men to the southern fields 
who in the turmoil of battle were smitten down for their country, 
and with the sound of the battle still unspent went to tlieir 
reward. Cherish their names; honoralile, brave men. There 
were men who were laid liold on 1\\- the enemv and carried ofi 
into southern prisons, who wasted tliere under the southern sun. 



CEN'I'ENNIAI. CELEBRATION. 1 63 

who died under the soutliern sun, who came home but to die. 
Noble men ! Remember them and their families with honor 
always. There were thos3 who sickened in hospitals and died, 
who did not have the satisfaction of dying in the midst of battle, 
but who died in the seclusion and silence and agony of the 
hospital lile; noble men every one — remember them, honor 
them, honor their families. And remember that these things 
were done that we might have the things that we enjoy now, 
that we might lay hold on the things that we consider precious 
now, that we might enjoy the fruits of liberty. 

' What is the use of coming together to-day,' I asked the 
lady who sat next me. She said : ' There are a few good things 
that last a hundred years, they ought to be celebrated.' 1 agree 
with her perfectly. I think we ought to celebrate; that is true. 
But we ought to celebrate this anniversary and come here with 
joy as we do to-night, not only in memory of the things that are 
past, but as illustrating to us the brotherhood of man. What is 
the town organization.'^ It is the community, the ci\il govern- 
ment among us. Now we ought to take, and I presume we do 
take, a great deal more interest in the celebration of an anniversary 
here in the town of Plymouth than we would in an anniversary 
of the State of Connecticut, a great deal more than we would in 
an anniversary of the United States of America. Why.'' Because 
we are only parts of the great whole in that case, but in this case 
we are the whole. This gathering of men which we call a town 
is the foundation of our civil structure, and it is the place of 
equality among men, it is the place of all places in the world 
where men are equal, and when they come together in their 
tow^n meetings and vote the things they will do, every man is as 
good as every other man. Everv man has his rights and he is 
not afraid to declare them, and the brotherhood of man, the 
equality of men, the political and righteous relations between 
men stand exemplified in the town government as they can 
nowhere else, so the town government is very dear to us, the 
very foundation of our political institutions. Without the town 
government we could not have what we now have in these 
United States, so it ought to be preserved, it ought to be made 
much of, we ought to rejoice in it, and that we all have our 
share in it. We ought, as Paul did when he was on his way to 
Rome and the brethren came out to meet him, to thank God and 
take courage, and then go forward, every one, with his heart set 
on this, that he will serve God and his fellow-men always, 
everywhere, truly, fully, completely ; that he will put away all 
that is untruthful, all that is dishonorable ; that for the sake of 
God and his fellow-men and the town in which he lives, for the 
sake of the parents who bore him and the honorable ancestry 
around him he will live as a noble, upright, honorable Christian 
man, always and everywhere doing his part to help his fellow- 
men. May such be the influence of this celebration upon us 
each and every one, and those who live on to the middle of the 
next century, or if any of you are tough enough to live on to the 



164 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

next centennial, won't you see if you cannot do very much along 
the lines which I have mentioned? 

Thanking you for your kindness and attention, and rejoicing 
to be with you here to-night, I bid you all farewell." 

Mr. Pond — I am well aware that the hour is late, yet there 
are some others we would like to hear from. I want to ask them 
if they won't confine their remarks to not more than ten minutes 
after this. There is one gentleman I am sure you would like to 
hear, Rev. Moseley H. Williams of Philadelphia. I think he 
was born in Plymouth, at least he was a resident here for many 
years. Will Mr. Williams please favor us. ^ 

Rev. Moseley H. Williams — No, I was not born in Ply- 
mouth, but I wish I had been. I trust you will accept this confession 
to-night for all that it is worth. I came here a boy of seven and 
since then Plymouth has at all times been to me a very bright 
spot, and so I was drawn from Philadelphia. As General 
Blakeslee said, I felt I should not live until the next one In 
view of the success of the present celebration you might do as 
Fred Douglas said the colored people proposed to do after the 
Philadelphia Centennial. They liked it so well that they pro- 
posed to have them once a quarter for a while, and it is very 
likely that you will do the same thing, so that we shall live to 
have another centennial. 

Now, God gives us some bright spots, and this is a very 
bright spot in my own experience, to be here in the old place, 
look in the faces of the friends, rejoice in what I had of privilege 
in this goodly town, and to thank all the boys and girls — wide 
awake, though it is long past nine o'clock — who will make the 
history of the next half century. Boys — I was thinking of it 
while you were speaking, Mr. Blakeslee — of what an old man 
said to his boys. He said : ' Boys, if you grow up and do my 
work you can have my place.' That is what the fathers and the 
older people are always saving, ' If you grow up and do my 
work you can have my place,' and the next boy that is giown up 
and can do his part can now have my place ! (Stepping from 
the platform.) 

Mr. Pond — I will not call upon any one personally, but I 
see manv here who are fullv competent to talk for ten minutes, 
and who could entertain this audience, I am sure, and I want to 
ask them to volunteer. Thomaston is well represented, as I 
said before. 

(There being no response Mr. Pond resumed). 

You will notice by the programme that this is not the last 
of this celebration ; it is to be continued in Terrvville to-morrow. 
The exercises will be held in a large tent in Baldwin Park in the 
forenoon, with a concert in the afternoon and an organ recital in 
the church in the evening. We extend a cordial invitation to all 
of you to come over to Terrvville to-morrow. We shall expect 
to see you all there. We intend to have a good time. We thank 
you for vour attendance here this evening, and as the hour is late 
perhaps it would be not best to continue any longer. 

Wednesday morning dawned with over-hanging clouds. 



CENTENNIAL CEEEBKATION. 165 

threatening the pleasure of a long anticipated day, but though 
unpleasant the larger part of the morning, very little rain fell. 
At 10 o'clock a large crowd had gathered in the big tent erected 
east of the school building on Baldwin Park, in Terryville, to 
witness and take part in the continued celebration of Plymouth's 
grand centennial. A large stage occupied a portion of the tent 
room and upon this were gathered the chorus, Colt's full 
orchestra and the principal speakers of the day. Seats from the 
town hall occupied the remaining space and before the opening 
they were filled. Standing room even was at a premium. Soon 
the sides of more than a third of the tent were rolled up and the 
already large audience continued to grow and multiply outside 
of the space covered by the canvass. For some reason the 
exercises did not commence until 10.30 at which time the 
orchestra rendered Marche et Cortege "La Reine de Saba" in 
their usual pleasing manner. Then prayer was said by Rev. 
Chas. H. Smith, who spoke as follows: 

"Eternal Father, our dwelling place, we thank thee that Thou 
art the same and that Thy years have no end. The eternal 
beneficence which Thou has shown unto the earth Thou art 
showing unto us with the new day- Thy loving-kindness has 
scattered the shadows of the night; Thou hast brought to us the 
new morning light and with it the glad sunshine. We thank 
Thee, O Lord our God, for Thy mercy unto us ; for the leading 
of Thy people through all this century of life until they gather 
here to-day to rejoice in the loving kindness and tender mercy of 
our God. And now we come to ask Thy blessing upon us, that 
in the words that are spoken in this hour there may come such 
inspiration to our hearts that we shall be built up in all that is 
noble, in all that is true, in all that is pure, in all that is holy. 
Bless those who shall lead us in thought; bless those who shall 
lift up our souls as on angel pinions in the voice of song, and 
grant that the services of this day may be for Thy glory, for our 
comfort and cheer, for the instruction of the rising generation ; 
that thev may be most of all for the honor and praise and glory 
of Him who hath redeemed us with His precious blood — Jesus 
Christ our Lord, in whose name we ask it. Amen." 

Rev. Wm A. Gay followed with this address of welcome: 

"Plymouth is proud of her children. She is proud of them 
because of what they are. She is proud of them because of 
what thev have done or are now doing. vShe is proud of them 
because they have proven so faithful to the lessons learned when 
they were under her sheltering wing. 

Many of her boys and girls have gone out from the old home 
to win honored places among their fellow-men ; and whitherso- 
ever they have journeved they have carried with them fond 
memories of their Alma Mater. 

The luxuriant vallevs, the lichen painted and rock gemmed 
hills, the purling brooks and bounding rivulets, are pictures that 
the sons and daughters of old Plymouth have carried with them 
to their distant dwellings, and have cherished among their most 
priceless treasures. 



l66 JllSTORV OF PLYMOUTH. 

And now the mother has invited hei" wandering cliildren 
back to rejoice with her in the celebration of her first centennial. 
In response to that invitation, you have come from the East and 
West ; from the North and South ; and you are here to-day that 
you may prove by your presence that you have not forgotten the 
one who has done so much for you. You are here that you may 
rejoice with those who still abide along the hills and in the 
valleys of this old Connecticut town. You are here that you 
may live over again the scenes of the happy by gone yeais, 
when, as boys and girls, you gathered the honeysuckle and the 
laurel, or mastered the first lessons in arithmetic and spelling in 
the old school house. 

And we give you all a glad welcome. Our homes are your 
homes. Our hearts and our hands are at your service. We 
welcome you with the joyous centennial bells. We welcome 
you with vocal and instrumental music. We welcome you with 
words of cheer that come from the very depths of our souls. 

Welcome home, beloved childieii, 

In this flowery month of May ; 
Welcome home to her who loves you ; 
Welcome, welcome home to-day : 

Home ; home ; sweet, sweet home ; 
Welcome, welcome home." 

Mr. Pond — The question of who should be invited to deliver 
the historical address on this occasion is one which caused the 
Centennial Committee but very little trouble. Although there 
were many men who claim Plymouth as their native place who 
were abundantly competent to perform that duty, there was one 
who appeared, like Saul, the son of Kish, to rise head and 
shoulders above his fellow-men ; a Terryville boy, beginning his 
education here, he has been watched with interest from that 
moment until the present time. We saw him when a mere 
youth, he scoured the town to enlist men in the defense of his 
coimtry ; we saw him upon the return from the war with an 
honorable record, with the commission of a colonel and the 
empty sleeve hanging by his side. We have watched his career 
in the law with interest and afiection ; we have seen him go up 
and up until he has reached the highest judicial tribunal in his 
native state, the bench of the Supreme Court of Errors. You 
know to whom I refer. Judge Augustus H. Fenn of Winsted. 

The judge kindly accepted the invitation extended him and 
began at once upon the address. As we understand, it was com- 
pleted on the thirteenth or fomteenth of March, and as he 
remarked at the time, every "i" was dotted and every "t" 
crossed. It was folded away to be used to-day. On the next, 
or the day following, to be exact, the fifteenth of Alarch, he met 
with the accident with which you are all familiar. His recovery 
in the past few weeks has been very rapid, and we had hoped, 
and he had expected, to be with us upon this occasion, but he has 
at last yielded to the request of his physicians, believing that the 
excitement woidd be too great a strain upon his nervous system, 



CENTENNIAI. CELEBRATION. 167 

but at his suggestion, which has been heartily endorsed by the 
committee, a substitute has been provided, and we are very 
proud to chtim the substitute also as a native of Plymouth. It 
is needless for me to say furtner in regard to him — he can 
abundantly speak for himself The next upon the programme 
will be the historical address prepared by Jutlge Augustus H. 
Fenn, and delivered by Prof. R. G. Hibbard of New Britain. 

Mr. Hibbard — Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen : 
No one can regret more than I do the absence of Judge Fenn 
to-day. We have here an admirable address, which should cer- 
tainly be delivered by its originator and author. I have, how- 
ever, consented to do the best I could, to act simply as a voice, 
and I will proceed to read it, as the chairman has said, without 
the omission of an " i " or a crossed " t." 

The history of the territory which became, in i795? t'^ti 
town of Plymouth, must necessarily, in an r ddress like the pres- 
ent, be sketched only in the baldest outline. Especially must this 
be true of that portion reaching back of the event, whose centen- 
nial we cjlebratc to-day. 

At the outset, I desire to express my fullest acknowledge- 
ment for the information which I have obtained upon the subject, 
to the labors of the late Rev. E. B. Milliard as embodied in a 
series of papers printed in the Thomaston Express ; in an article 
on Plymouth in the Litchfield County History, published in 
iSSi, and another on the Church at Plymouth, contributed to the 
volume c jutaining the addresses delivered at the two hundredth 
anniversa)"v of the foundation of the first Congregational Church 
at Waterbury — these and two manuscript addresses by Rev. J. 
W. Backus, prepared and delivered in 1876 (with which I have 
kindly been furnished) are results of infinite labor and research, 
and win prove invaluable material to the future historian of 
Plymouth, vs^hoever that person may be. 

Although the settlement of New England began in i6?o, 
and that of Connecticut iu 1635, it was not until nearly a century 
later (172S) that Henry Cook, with his family, located west of 
the Naugatuck River, and became the first white settlers of the 
territory of our old town, in that part now Thomaston. He was 
of Puritan stock; a great-grandson of Henry Cook, of Plymouth, 
Massachusetts. 

Two years later, John Sutlift' came from Branford, Conn., 
then Thomas^^jakeslee, Isaac Castle, Barnabas Ford, Gideon 
Allen, John Ilumaston, Ebenezer Richardson, John Bronson, 
Samuel Towner, Ebenezer Elwell, Jonathan Foot — these and a 
few others, and began to organize as an independent community. 
Of course, in those days, the earliest o.ganization was the 
church and the ecclesiastical society ; the f.rst public building, the 
house of worship ; a pastor, their first ofiicer. Such was the 
case here. 

The early et^brts to procure distinct religious privileges, as 
stated by Rev. Mr. Hilliard, are curious and interesting, but 
cannot be detailed at this time. Finally after several attempts, 
the General Assembly of the Colonv, in i7^g, were Induced to 



l6S HISTORY OF PI.VMOlflH. 

appoint a committee to investigate ; who reported to the Assem- 
bly, that the "northerly inhabitants," as they were called, were 
well able to bear the charges of a distinct society, and it was 
resolved that "they be and become a distinct society or parish, 
and that they shall have and be invested with all the powers and 
privileges wherewith other .parishes within this Colony are 
endowed, and shall be known and called by the Parish of North- 
burv." This was the first official recognition as a distinct com- 
munity of what afterwards became the town of Plymouth. 

The public thought of the next few years centered in the 
solution of the problem of securing a pastor, and locating and 
erecting a house of worshijD. The first was secured in 17401 i" 
the person of Rev. Samuel Todd ; the last, after many disputes 
between the inhabitants on the west side, and those on the east 
side of the river, some of them living as far eastward as what is 
known as "Town Plill," then a relatively prosperous section, 
v/as in 1744 located at a place called the Middle stake on the 
south side of the green, at the center of the town, on the high- 
wav opposite the present brick building belonging to the town — 
and here the first meeting house was built, and thus what is now 
Plymouth Center l^egun. But the meeting house was long in 
building. Voted, In December, 1745, to be forty-five feet long, 
thirty-five feet wide, and twentv feet between joists, it was not 
until September, 1747, that the frame was up, and it was voted 
to clear the meeting house green, wlilch had then been laid out, 
by cutting brus.i and carting It awnw 

In 1750, Elnathan Bronsou was appointed to sweep the 
house, an indication that it was then in use. But it was not 
then finished, for in 1761 it was voted to lay the floor in the 
galleries. In 1763, a committee was appointed to carry on the 
work of the meeting house, and in 176S a rate was laid to defray 
the charge of finishing. Thus after forty years in the wilderness, 
these cliildrcn of God found their first completed sjolrltual rest- 
ing place and home. 

IMe.uUlme, in 1764, the first pastorate, that of Rev. Samuel 
Todd, had ended. When he came to Plymouth, he was twenty- 
three >cars old, a native of Noith Haven, a graduate of Yale, 
recently nianicd. He came here on horseback, bringing his 
wife with him, doubtless on a pillion behind him, into what was 
then woods and wilderness, with only bridle paths and fords to 
the streams, to a small, feeble, scattered flock. His promised 
home was not begun when he arrived, and he went to live on 
Town Hill, where the cellar hole is still to be seen, in the lot 
near where he, whom it is one of my proudest boasts to speak of 
as my grandfather Elam Fenn, so long lived a beautiful and con- 
secrated life. 

Samuel Todd, I regard as the typical founder of this com- 
munity, and brief as is my time, I cannot forbear quoting to you 
his fitting tribute in the words of Rev. Mr. Hllliard. He says in 
his admirable sketch of the church in Plymouth : "To no man 
In its history has the community been more largely indebted. 
He was the pilot under whose guidance it weathered the storm. 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 169 

Coming in his young- manhood into the wilderness, bringing his 
young wife with him on horseback when bridle paths were the 
only roads; the society that had called him wrecked at the out- 
set of its history ; his parishioners divided and alienated ; his 
church for years, destitute of a home and wandering like a wa^- 
farer from house to house ; his support inadequate ; his salary 
which had been small from the first diminished by the deprecia- 
tion of the currency, and because of the straitened circum- 
stances of his people, difficult to secure ; changing his home 
repeatedly with the changing fortunes of the parish ; struggling 
with discouragement, and in the later years of his ministry with 
broken health, this good man labored on with patience and faith- 
fulness and a spirit unembittcrcd by trouble, his chief solicitude 
being not for himself, but for the parish in its weakness/' In 
speaking of his final dismissal, Mr. Hilliard says it was from "a 
pastorate which was not a f:;ilure, but a success, unsurpassed 
indeed by any that followed it. Air. Todd did good pioneer 
work, making things easier for his successors, and the records of 
the parish for a century and a half is his monument." Mr. Todd 
was succeeded by Rev. Andrew Storrs, ordained in 176^, when 
thirt}' years old, and who, after a successful ministry of twenty 
years, died in office in 178^5 at the age of fifty, and lies buried in 
the old cemetery in Plymouth Center. He was succeeded by 
Simon Waterman, settled in 17^7' ^"*^^ dismissed in 1S09. Con- 
cerning him, the following anecdote was related by my grand- 
father, w^hich Mr. Hilliard has preserved. He was tall, thin, 
stylish ; a master of ceremony. " He used to walk up the broad 
aisle of the church, bowing and smiling on either side, the peo- 
ple rising and bowing to him as he passed. Reaching the pidpit 
he first turned and bowed to the bass on his right, who filled the 
front gallery seat on the south side, and rose to bow in return. 
This parade was repeated with the treble in front, and with the 
counter and tenor on the left." The dignity and courtesy cf this 
old time style told with benefit on character and life. Ibis w:;s 
carried to excess by the president of Vale — small in stature, hut 
great in dignit}', who, in joassing into the chapel between two 
files of seniors ranged outside the doer according to custom, 
sllj:)ped and fell on his back in the mud. The students were 
overcome with laughter. Rising and casting a withering glance 
upon them, the Frex. burst out, "Young gentlemen, do you not 
know how awful a thing it is to laugh in the presence of God, 
and much more in my presence.-^" 

During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Storrs, the Revolutionary 
war occurred. In this, several of the inhabitants of the parish 
of Northbury had an honorable part. Deacon Camp went 
through the wilderness of Maine in 1775, with Arnold to besiege 
Qiiebec. Daniel Rowe was at the battle of Saratoga, and is 
said to have been the first person to reach Arnold after he was 
wounded. Jesse Smith was Major. There were both patriots 
and torles, as they were called, in the community, and both did 
their part. 

I ought not to omit to say, that the Episcopal Churcii in 



HisroKV OK IM.^^I(>u III 




Interior Congregational Cliurch, Pl>moutli. 
where Centennial Services were held 







Tent on BalJwin Park, Terr\ \ ille, 
there Centennial Services were held. 



CKNTKNNIAL CELEBR ATIO.V. 171 

Plymouth, St. Peter's, is as ancient as the Congregational. It 
was organized in 1740, and the first church edifice erected in 
what is now Thomaston. It had, previous to the revolution, 
five rectors ; Theophilus Morris, James Lyon, Richard Mans- 
field, James Scoville and James Nichol?. After the revolution, 
the society was reorganized with a list of members which em- 
braced the names of many of the most influential citizens of the 
communit) . The present church edifice in Plymouth Center is 
substantially of the same age as the t:wn, having been erected 
in 1796 and consecrated in 1797. But I am not undertaking to 
give a church history. My only purpose in alluding to the sub- 
ject to-day, is to develop the secular story of the town, and it 
has thus far been requisite to refer at such length, because the 
Ecclesiastical Parish was the parent of the town, and until the 
latter was organized, the former was the only body whose story 
could be told. Having now reached the period of such organi- 
zation, that I may conclude this branch of my address, permit 
me to anticipate the thread of my narrative in point of time and 
to say, that the successor of Rev. Mr. Waterman, the Rev. 
Luther Hart, who began his ministry of the Plymouth church in 
iSio, continuing it until his death in 1834, must have been a 
man of superior ability and fitness for his work, for, more than 
forty years after his tleatb, I have heard old people who sat 
under his ministry refer to him in such terms of mingled admira- 
tion and veneration and love, as few men ever receive, and fewer 
still are honored with when they have long been dead. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Ephraim Lyman, who was pastor from 1S35 
to 1851. During his ministry, in December, 1837, the Congre- 
gational Church in Thomaston was founded, with thirty-seven 
members. It took with it one of the deacons of the church in 
Plymouth, Tertius D. Potter, born before the town of Plymouth 
was organized, and who died three years ago at the age of nearly 
one hundred. The very next month, January, 183S, the church 
in Terryville was organized with about fiftv members. Its first 
pastor was Rev. Nathaniel Richardson. His pastorate lasted 
two years. He was succeeded by Rev. Merrill Richardson, 
twice a pastor of the church, a short pastorate of Rev. Judson 
A. Root coming between, his last ministry here closed in 1S58. 
Of his successors, I need not speak, for they belong to modern 
times. 

The General Assembly of this State in 179'^ passed an act 
dividing the town of Watertown, and incorporating the town of 
Plymouth. The population of the new town was, I suppose, 
substantially 1,300, for in 1790 the population of Watertown was 
3,170, and in iSoo the population of Watertown was 1,622, and 
of Plymouth 1,121, a sharp decrease in the total in the decade. 
But in 1810, the population of Plymouth had increased to 1,882; 
again in 1S20, it had decreased and was 1,7^8, while in the same 
decade the population of Litchfield Countv had fallen from 
41,375, in 1810, to 41,367, in 1820. In 1S30, PIvmouth had 
increased to 2,064; in iS^o it was 2,568; in 1860,3,244; in 
1870, notwithstanding the loss of the war, the greatest increase 



KisroKv OK PL^•.^lou^n. 



came, to 4,149, hecoming then the larg-est population of anv 
town in Litchfield County. In 1S75, occurred the division of 
the town, and the setting; off of a portion of its territory to form 
Thomaston. In iSSo, the population of Plymouth was 2,350; of 
Thomaston, 3,223 ; in 1S90, of Plymouth, 2,147 ' of Thomaston, 
^,278. Now that I am upon the matter of statistics, may add 
Lhat midway between the organization of the town and the pres- 
ent time, just fifty years ago, in 1S45, by authority of the legis- 
lature, information concerning certain branches of industiy in 
the various towns of this State was procured, and an abstract 
prepared and published, a copy of which is in the vState Library 
at Hartford, referring to which I find the following information 
concerning Plymouth : 

In the year 1845, we had i cotton mill, with 2,188 spindles, 
cotton consvmied, 15,000 lbs., cloth manufactured, 49,000 lbs., 
value, $39,200; 1 atting, 3,000 lbs., value, $180; capital, $40,000; 
males employed, 22 ; females, 36 ; i woolen mill, wdth two sets 
machinery ; wool consumed, 60,000., lbs cassimere manufactured, 
40,000 yards., value, $45,000 ; capital, $18,000 ; males employed, 
20; females, 10; sewing silk manufactured, 320 lbs., vplue, 
$2,000; capital, $2,000; males employed, i; females, 7i 
machine factory, i ; merchandise manufactured, $1,500; capital, 
$800 ; employes, 3 ; lock factories, 2 ; locks manufactured, 
42,000 dozen ; value, $25,000; capital, $11,000; employes, 38. 
Clock factories, 5 ; clocks manufactured, 95,500; value, $191,- 
000; capital, $45,000; employes, 200, other minor manufactures 
included. Forks and hoes, 350 dozen; plows, 15; saddles, 
harnesses, and trunks, value manufactured, $5,000. Coach and 
wagon manufactories, 2 ; merchandise, $30,240 ; capital, $10,000 ; 
employes, 35. Chair and cabinet manufactories, i ; value mer- 
chandise, $2,sco; capital, $1,500. Flouring mills, 2; flour 
manufactured, 162 barrels; value, $810. Tanneries, 2; hides 
tanned, 1,700; boots manufactured, 1,265 pairs; shoes, 2,750 
pairs; value, $7,769; employes, 10. Bricks manufactured, 
175,000; value, $990; lime, 200 casks. Lumber prepared for 
market, 150,000 feet; fire wood prepared for market, 3,75^ 
cords; value, $9,231. Sperm oil consumed, 3,434 gallons, 
value, $3,434 ; anthracite coal consumed, 20 tons, value, $204. 
There were in the town 275 Saxony sheep, 522 Merino sheep, 
and of all other sorts, 1,013, total value, $2,262. There were 
273 horses, 1,787 neat cattle, 673 swine. There was raised in 
1845, corn, 6,653 I'ushels, wheat, 80 bushels, rye, 4,724 bushels, 
barley, 80 bushels, oats, 9,535 bushels, potatoes, 14,968 bushels, 
fruit, 111,092 bushels, flax, 1,122 pounds, and 61,829 pounds ot 
butter, and 22,358 pounds of cheese was made. 

The first town meeting of the new town of Plymouth was 
held on Wednesday, June 24, i795- David Smith w^as chosen 
moderator, and Joseph A. Wright, the first town clerk or regis- 
trar. 3 Aaron Dunbar, Joseph A. Wright and Abram Heaton 
were chosen selectmen. Jason Fenn appeared not as tow'n clerk, 
as he does to-day, but as a surveyor of highways, to which 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIO.V, 



/3 



office another of my great-grandfathers, Timothy Atwater^ was 
also at the same time appointed. 

The next town meeting was held December 14, 179s- It 
was then voted, that the town treasurer for the time being, by 
and with the advice of the selectmen, be directed to loan out the 
money which has or will be paid by the town of Watertown to 
this town agreeable to the resolve of the General Assembly incor- 
porating said towns, in sums not exceeding fifteen ]:)ounds to one 
man, provided those who apply for the money procure suretv to 
the acceptance of said treasmer and selectmen ; the obligations 
for which sums not to exceed the jurisdiction of a single justice, 
with, the interest at the time the}^ become payable, which shall 
not exceed one vear from the time they are given. This monev 
appears, a few vears later, to have been specially appropriated 
for the purpose of building a bric'gc. 

The town meeting of which I have just been speaking, was 
adjourned to December 31, 1795, when it was voted, that a tax 
of two pence on the pound, on the last August list be granted, 
payable the tenth dav of January next, for the purpose of paying 
the expenses of the town. Asa specimen of the spirit of paternal 
government, which appears to have somewhat prevailed at that 
time, it mav be mentioned that it was also, at said adjourned 
meeting, voted, that the town will pay the expense of Lem 
Dunliar's late sickness, and that the same be not charged to the 
said Dunbar. We have seen that in i795i ^he tax was of two 
pence half ]iennv on the ]">ound, but in 1796 the tax was two 
cents on the dollar. Then more examples of the paternal spirit 
occurred. It was voted, that the selectmen be directed to allow 
Mrs. Anna Royce ten dollars for the expense of doctoring Free- 
man Upson in August and September last. And it was voted, 
that if any boar of more than three months old, or any ram 
should be found out of the custody or possession of the owner 
thereof between the 20th day of August and the ist day of 
November next, it shall forfeit the sum of one dollar to any one 
who shall prosecute the same to etiect. And it was also voted, 
that the selectmen be directed to apportion out four of the law 
books which are the property of this town, to the several parts 
of the town according to the list of their inhabitants. In 1797 it 
was voted that liberty be given for the inoculation for the small- 
pox to be carried on in this town under the direction of the civil 
authority and the selectmen. It is stated that more than two- 
thirds of the inhabitants present were in the foregoing vote. In 
I Soo it was voted that the selectmen be directed to procure a 
funeral cloth. December 12, iSoS, it was voted tnat a com- 
mittee be appointed to confer with the selectmen on the subject 
of Allen Howe's wife, and report to this meeting. vSaid com- 
mittee reported that they wish for more time for consideration of 
the subject. 

The town records of a town contain its official history. 
That of Plymouth is now embraced in two volumes. It may be 
interesting to know when the first of these volumes, which was 
begun in 1795, closes. It seemed to me significant. It is with 



174 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

the meeting, a special one, of September 3, 1S63, and with the 
recorded action of the town, at that meeting, in v^oting a bounty 
from the town treasury to volunteers in the war for the Union, 
and appointing a committee to solicit such volunteers in the ser- 
vice of the U. S. Government. Then the second or present 
volume begins with the record of the annual town meeting of 
1S63, in which it was voted to authorize tiie selectmen "to draw 
orders on the treasury of this town to an amount not exceeding 
$3,000 in addition to what has been heretofore voted for the 
same purpose, and to use the same so far as in their discretion 
they shall deem necessary for the benefit and support of the 
families of such persons belonging to this town as have, or may 
hereafter enlist in and enter the service of our country vinder the 
call of our governor for volunteers in aid of quieting the pres- 
ent rebellion." Thus the second volume of the official histor}' of 
Plymouth began as the first ended, with provisions for National 
welfare and defense in time of peril. Pray God, that in the 
years to come, it may end as tlie first began, with the record ot 
wise measures for the welfare of a united commimitv ; a unit in 
a union, whose states constitute a nation, presided over bv a 
Chief Magistrate, who, although he shall never have known war, 
shall be because of true statesmanship, first in peace, and first in 
the hearts of his countrymen. 

The first convevance of land in the town of Plymouth, with 
the record of which its land records begin, Vol. i, page i, is 
dated April 29, 179S ; received June 24, 1795, and is from Noah 
Upson to Daniel Rowe. It conveyed two acres, and the consid- 
eration expressed is seven pounds, lawful money. There appears 
to haye been considerable activity in real estate at that time, for 
daring the first twelve months i 14 warranty deeds, besides other 
conveyances, were recorded. 

Plymouth was made a separate Probate District in 1S33. 
The first Probate Court in the new district was held June 20, 
1S33. The first official act was granting administration on the 
intestate estate of Cornelia Fenn. On tlie next day June 21st, 
the first testate estate came in, that of Amos Mallorv. The first 
inventorv returned was that of said Mallorv's estate, on August 
23, 1S33. The entire property was about $1,000, including the 
library, valued at $1.92, composed of the following five items: 
I Bible, 75 cents; Explanation New Testament, 42 cents; Scrip- 
ture of Regeneration, 2^ cents; Watts' Hvmns, 25 cents; Dr. 
TrmnbuH's vSermons, 2% cents. Small as tliis may seem in the 
way of literature, tlie next seven inventories returned do not 
show as well. The onlv books in anv of them are Bibles, and 
only three of those out of the seven. Then came the inventory 
of Rev. Luther Hart's estate: Total, $7,202.67, including 
library appraised at $1,500 

It is the fortune — ought I, or ought I not to say the misfor 
tune — of such a towm as Plymouth, to be tlie cradle, the nursury. 
of men whose activities in life are devoted to the development of 
other communities, the building up of other places. The extent 
to which this is true can hardly be stated, but a single instance 



CENTENNIAL CEEEBKATION. I 75 

may perhaps illustrate it. In 1S77, a suggestion was made that 
the former residents of Ph mouth, then residing in Bridgeport in 
this State, be called together for a social evening. The sugges- 
tion was carried out, and on the evening appointed, although 
doubtless, some were not known and therefore not invited, and 
some of those invited were not able to attend, upwards of 
seventy-five were present. I do not doubt that there are other 
places in this State and probably places in other States that 
could muster as many. And 1 wish with all my heart they 
would mustei-, whatever their numbers and wherever they are, 
and gathered thus together recognize the common tie which 
binds them to each other, and to the dear old town from which 
the}' have wanderetl. I need not say to you that the occasion in 
question was one ol rare interest ; its proceedings were published 
and embrace a historical sketch by the late Deacon Joel Blakes- 
lee, a poem and short speeches, all breathing afiection for 
Plymouth. 

If I were now t^ sum up in a few words the history of Plv- 
mouth for the first two-thirds of its corporate existence, for the 
period which the first volume of its town records embrace, I 
should say that it appears to me to be a fair type of a representa- 
tive New England town, worthy of the name which it derived 
from its first settlers, of Ph'mouth, Massachusetts, Puritan stock 
and descent; a typical New England community, with the 
interests, the thoughts, the activities, the peculiarities; m a word, 
the life of such a community. And if there is a better life on 
this earth anywhere, I should be glad indeed to learn where to 
find it. I know that during the late war, thousands of Union 
soldiers, thinking, oh, how fondly, as thev faded and wasted 
away in rebel prisons, of just such communities, whispered of 
them to each other by the name of "Home" and "God's coun- 
ti\- ; " a community, which though it gave freely of its best to the 
world at large, has always kept a fair part of its best for itself, 
and for its own enrichment; a community interested in good 
laws, good government, good morals; in education, progress, 
religion. In later years, perhaps, like other semi-rural com- 
niLuiities, too much neglecting its farms for the sake of its shops. 
Draining and denuding its hills to fructify and beautify its 
valleys. But always, I think, as a whole, as a unit, as a town, 
to whatever means and methods and avocations, its children 
turned for sustenance and support, recognizing the divine truths 
that the life is more than meat, the body more than raiment, and 
that man, the image of the Creator, does not live by bread alone. 
And so, as in the progress of time its streams have been put at 
labor to carry the machinery of its factories, and iron highways 
traversed by steam have supplanted its wagon roads for traffic, 
when it has been brought bv railroads, telegraph and telephone 
out of the woods and solitudes, and into touch and contact with 
the throbbing pulse of a world-wide humanity, it has still kept, 
and let us trust it will ever keep, a touch and fellowship with 
Him, whose everlasting arms are underneath, holding whose 
hand in trust, our fathers walked, rather by faith than sight, into 



176 HISTORY OF PI.YiMOUTH. 

the wilderness, and made it blossom like a rose. The fathers 
are gone, as we too shall go. But let us preserve sacredly our 
sacred birthright and inheritance. Let us leave to our children, 
as they to theirs, to us, the faith that makes faithful ; the perfect 
love that casteth out fear ; and the trust that endureth to the end. 

In 1S61, the war of the rebellion — the war foi the Union — 
began at Fort Sumter. It ended at Appomatox in 1S65, thirty 
years ago. In that great struggle, Plymouth did its full share. 
Its loyalty was unbounded; its devotion sublime. It gave to it 
the strength of its manhood, the flower of its youth. Wherever 
Connecticut men went in that conflict (and where was there, 
the conflict raged, that Connecticut men did not go.?}, the sons 
of old Plymouth were with them, in all three hundred strong. 
They were in the First Cavalry. Erastus Blakeslee was its 
adjutant, afterwards, its colonel. Bray ton Ives, grandson of 
venerable Truman Ives, of Town Hill, was also its colonel. 
Leonard P. Goodwin was its major. They were in the Second 
New York Cavalry. Augustus Martinson was a lieutenant 
there. He was killed. So the old question, "Did anyone ever 
see a dead cavalryman?" was answered, "Many of us have seen 
them." There were no braver men anywhere than in the 
cavalry, and there was no more useful arm of the service. Dorence 
At water was in that regiment, and he saved to the nation the 
dead roll at Andersonville. They were in the First and Second 
Light Batteries. They were in the First Connecticut Heavy 
Artillery, that famous regiment, originally the Fourth Infantry. 
How well do I remember they were there. It was my privilege 
to enroll my name among the list that went to make our company 
of that regiment, enlisted from Plymouth and Torrington, and it 
lingers in my mind to-day, as one of the saddest spots in a life 
that has had its sorrows, that when one bright spring day, the 
two squads met for final organization at Campville, as a halfway 
place, I found there were more names upon the roll than were 
required to fill the company. The fittest were taken, and Homer 
E. Cook, of Terryville, and myself were left. Poor fellows. 
As we walked back home that afternoon, over the dusty road 
and through the woods, we felt that we should rather face the 
entire Confederate army single handed, than meet again the 
people at home. But time has its revenges. Poor Homer Cook, 
worthy man that he was, lived to compel the people of Plymouth 
to stand and deliver their money to him for many years in the 
shape of taxes, and as for myself, I was fortunate enough to see 
a little fighting after all, before the war closed, and to be, on one 
bright Sunday in April, 186^, near a certain fiamous apple tree 
at x\ppomatox, Va., and where I was the bovs of old Plvmouth, 
belonging to Co. D., of the .Second Heavy Artillerv, were also. 

Again, the citizens of Plvmouth were in that fighting regi- 
ment, the old Fifth. In the Sixth, Eugene Atwater was a 
captain. In the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, 
Twelftli, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, vSixteenth, Seventeenth, Twen- 
tieth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-ninth. 

Last, but not least, mav I speak of them in tiie old Nine- 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. I 77 

teenth, afterwards the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery. 
The Litchheld County Regiment, Company D, of the old Nine- 
teenth, contained eighty-six officers and men, of whom fifty-three 
were from Plymouth, eighteen from Watertown, thirteen from 
Harwinton, one from Burlington, one from Morris. The aver- 
age age of those eighty-six men was, I suppose, not more than 
twenty-five years. It was probably less. They were examined 
and passed as sound, healthy persons. Under the ordinary con- 
ditions of civil life, during the three years of their term of service, 
not more than five of their number would have been likely to 
have died. That would have been an annual average of two in 
a hundred. What was the fact.? Of those eighty-six thirty- 
seven were wounded ; thirty-one were killed or died of wounds 
or disease ; thirty-four only remained to be mustered out at the 
close of their term of service. Adding to the death-roll, those 
who afterward died of wounds received in battle, or disability, 
contracted in the service, it is entirely within bounds to say that 
one-half of those eighty-six men died as the result of their devo- 
tion to their countr3''s cause, while it is also, in my sincere belief, 
true, that not one man in that entire number left the service in as 
good a phvsical condition and with as good chances for long life, 
as when he entered it. Now these men knew the risks they took 
when they started. They understood, they realized what they 
were doing, and they did it deliberately. There were boys in 
that company, in their teens. Boys who were the hopes of 
fathers; the pride of fond mothers; dutiful sons who would not 
have gone without their parents' consent. And they went with 
that consent, and their parents knew what it meant. Other boys 
had gone from other Plymouth homes before them, in the First 
Connecticut Artillery, and in other regiments, and had been 
brought home dead and laid away in the cemeteries of our town. 
Some had not come home, and would never come, alive or dead. 
Their parents knew this, and they let their sons go. Wives 
knew it, and they bid their husbands God-speed. Even children, 
and they kissed their fathers, and said good-bye. Why was all 
this.? Oh, my friends, you who lived in those days know why it 
was, as only vou can know. Love of country was stronger than 
the love of life. Better death for its honor, than life if it came 
to disgrace. And so, in the defence of Washington ; in the 
charges at Cold Harbor; in the trenches before Petersburg; fac- 
ing the rebel batteries at Winchester ; sweeping down the slopes 
of Fisher's Hill ; and in the sunken road at Cedar Creek ; as on 
many another battlefield, and in many another regiment, the 
men of Plymouth laid down their lives, a willing sacrifice upon 
the altar of their countrv. Nor did they die in vain. Bv their 
sacrifice, bv their blood, was generated that new birth of free- 
dom, out of which came that assurance for all time, which the 
immortal words of Lincoln declared on the field of Gettysburg, 
that "government of the people, by the people, and for the peo- 
ple, shall not perish from the earth." 

I purposely refrain from speaking the names of those con- 
nected with the service, who seem to me entitled to special men- 



IJb mSTOKV OF PLViMOUTH. 

tion. I do this because in the first place, time will not allow me 
to do justice to all, and I would not by allusion to some and 
omission ol" others seem to discriminate to the injustice of any. 
Again, the means of observation of each person ditiers, and as a 
result, were I to speak of individuals, as they appear to me, 1 
might on one hand speak of some more highly than others would 
recognize as their due, and on the other fail to confer praise 
where it was felt to be at least equally called for. Besides, to 
mv thinking, the honor comes from the willing service and true 
devotion. And whether that service resulted in a general's star, 
or an unmarked soldier's grave, is but an incident. The path of 
duty was the way to glory, and it led alike to both. 

Nor passing from military service, would I speak much or 
ot many of those belonging to this town, who in civil life have 
won distinction here or elsewhere. 

I have, however, mentioned some of its clergymen, and I 
mav be pardoned a passing reference to a few of its more promi- 
nent men in the ranks of other professions. There have been 
many physicians here. Of those now in practice, skillful and 
useful as any who preceded them, though they may be, it is not 
fitting that I should speak. Of those now gone, I will only say, 
that there have been three, one in each section of the old town, 
before its division, unlike to each other as were the sections in 
which they lived, who, taking them all in all, considering their 
skill, their character, their citizenship, their faithful service, are 
worthy of special remembrance: William Woodruff, of Thomas- 
ton, Samuel T. Salisbury, of Plvmouth Center, Franklin J. 
Whittemore, of Terryville. 

Of the legal profession, in memory oi the same qualities to 
which I have just referred, there have been three also who should 
be named: Calvin Butler, Elisha Johnson, and Ammi Giddings. 
The two last each lived here for many years, filling spheres of 
great usefulness, careful counsellors, trusted advisors. They 
were vour judges of probate, town clerks, registrars. They eacli 
represented the town in the lower house, and the senatorial dis- 
trict in the upper house of the General Assembly. They each 
went away to find what they deemed wider fields, and perhaps I 
violate no confidence which I ought to keep, when I say, that I 
have heard both regret, as I also regretted, that the}' went. 

Of Calvin Butler, probablv the present generation knows 
much less. A brief sketch of his life may be found in an appen- 
dix to the Fifteenth Vol. Connecticut Reports. He was born in 
what is now Wolcott, in 1772; removed with his parents while 
a child to New Marlboro, Mass. He was two years in Williams 
College, then studied law; commenced practice in iSoo, in 
New Canaan, Conn. Next vear he went to Bristol, where he 
remained until 1S06, when he removed to Plymouth, \\here he 
resided until his death in 1S44. He represented this town in the 
General Assembly of this State in 1814, ISI^, 1816, 1817, 1818, 
1 82 1, 1822, and 1828. He was a member of the convention 
which formed the constitution of this State in 1818. He repre- 
sented the sixteenth senatorial district in the Senate in 1832. 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. I 79 

He was for very many years town clerk. When Plymouth 
became a probate district in 1833, he was appointed its first 
judge, and remained in office until disqualified by age, in 1S42. 
He was also at one time judge of the old county court for the 
County of Litchfield. He died suddenly while away from home, 
but his dust is in our cemetery, and he left the reputation of a 
faithful public servant, a competent and careful lawyer, and an 
honest man. 

Of all the men born in Plymouth, who have gone from here 
to lives of great distinction and usefulness elsewhere, there is 
only one of whom I feel that I ought to take time to speak to-day. 
I refer to Junius Smith, LL. D., who was born in Northbury 
parish in rySo. He graduated at Yale College ; at the Litch- 
field Law School, and settled as a lawver in New Haven. In 
1805 he went to England, and there engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits, with varying fortunes, until 1833. He then interested him- 
self in the cause of trans-Atlantic steam navigation, convinced 
that the ocean could be crossed by steam. He was met with 
incredulity. He undertook to charter a vessel for an experiment, 
but had no success. He tried to organize a company, but men 
of science declared that no steamer could survive the terrible 
storms that sweep the Atlantic. Not a single share of stock was 
taken. Notwithstanding this, he persevered. I cannot detail 
the struggles of six years, but the indomitable will of a Plymouth 
boy conquered, and in 1838, the Sirius, a steamer of 700 tons, 
sailed from Cork on the 4th day of April and reached New York 
on the 23d, the first vessel that steamed her way across the 
Atlantic, and one of our boys did it. 

Of the many men whose energy, enterprise and clear fore- 
sight have been vitally useful to this community in the develop- 
ment of its resources; the employment of its inhabitants; the 
building of its great industries — three men distinguished as 
founders will always be held in special honor: Seth Thomas, 
Eli Terry, Silas Hoadley. The first has given his name to the 
new town in the valley which came from our soil. The second 
has bestowed his, through his son, Eli Terry, Jr., upon the 
village in which we are assembled to-dav. The third, less fort- 
unate, has ceased to be remembered even in the appellation of 
the small hamlet, which once was called Hoadleyville. But it 
matters little. He was in man}' respects the peer of the other 
two men. His life was one of great usefulness, and whenever 
the earlv history of Plymouth is written, or whenever it mav be 
recalled, his place in it is secure for all time. Of one of these 
men, and of one only in this place, and in his presence, it is 
fitting that I should speak somewhat to-day. Eli Terry was 
born in East Windsor, April 13, 1773. He learned the business 
of clock making, and became deeplv interested in such of the 
arts and sciences as have a bearing on the construction of instru- 
ments for measuring time. He came to Northbur}' parish in 
September, 17931 and started the business of clock making. It 
is probable he used a knife, as well as manv other tools then 
m use, in doing the work. So limited was the demand at that 



I So HlSrOKY OK FI^YMOUTH. 

time, that after finishing three or tour, he was obliged to go out on 
horseback with them, and put them up where they had previously 
been sold. But it is not my province to detail the histoi'y of the 
manufacturing industries of Plsmouth. That part was allotted to 
and has already been discharged by one much more competent. 
I am thinking more of the man. He was a person of great 
energy. He not only helped to lay the foundation of Thomaston, 
but afterwards of Terrj'ville, to which he removed and where he 
died. He was successful in business, accumulating what was a 
large fortune in his day. It is said that he distributed to his 
family, and ga\e away to ditierent objects during the latter part 
of his life, not less than $100,000, retaining at the same time an 
amount of available property sufficient to atibrd him an annual 
income of $3,000, which he regarded as sufficient for all his 
temporal wants. He said that when he commenced business, he 
never once thought of accumulating one-tenth of that amount. 
He was a self-made man, with not much earh^ education, and 
not a wide range of reading, but he understood his business 
thoroughly. He was plain and practical. His manners were 
blunt, his ways original and peculiai, but he was a man of the 
strictest integrity, and he had the confidence, respect and esteem 
of all who knew him. He died in 18^3 at the age of eighty. 

I had purposed to trespass upon vour patience no longer 
than one hour, and but little of that space of time remains. 
Perhaps, however, but little concerning the history of Plymouth 
since the close of the war need be said. The vears succeeding 
the end of that great struggle were busy and prosperous ones. 
So much so, that notwithstanding the ravages wrought, the 
census of 1S70 showed, as we have already seen, a marked in- 
crease over that of 1S60. Our population had then become the 
largest of any town in Litchfield county. In 187"^, after a legis- 
lative struggle of three years, Thomaston became an independ- 
ent town, taking all its territory from the old town, thus dividing 
population, territory and grand list. The old town regretted 
the necessity of division, but in the main, as I believe and trust, 
the kindliest of feelings have continued to exist between the sec- 
tions. Though separated in government, in many respects Ply- 
mouth and Thomaston are and must ever remain united. After 
the lapse of a score of years, it may at least be said, I think, that 
neither town has found its prosperity impaired, as a result of 
the division. 

Considering the times through which we have passed, the 
age in which we live, the temptations which beset the enthusiastic 
and ambitious youth, eager to get on to seek other and larger 
spheres of enterprise ; to leave the rocky farms and the modest 
workshops for smoother acres or more alluring avocations — the 
mystery is not that the old town has failed to show a rate of 
increase; the wonder is that it has done so well and held, or so 
nearly held its own. All honor for this. First to God, who led 
our forefathers as thev journeved into the wilderness and trans- 
planted them as ofishoots from a sturdy vine, by the river in the 
North Country, leaving them there in trust that He who had 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. l8l 

transplanted would sustain. Next, thanks and praise to those 
men and women, who, proof against temptations to emigrate, 
have deemed the old soil good enough for them, save to the ex- 
tent that they by their lives of labor could improve it, and make 
the town better because they continued to live in it. Let this 
day then be one not in glorification of those, who, yielding to 
temptation, left home, however well they may have fared else- 
where, but let such as their only hope of forgiveness, vie with 
others in expressions of appreciation of those more loyal than 
they, who did not not do likewise. 

Such then, in retrospect, has been the first hundred years in 
the life of our dear old mother Plymouth. What in prospect is 
the next hundred years likely to be.^ Will she fare better or will 
she fare worse .^ None save God can tell. Whether the drain of 
the village, the town, the city, the West, the levy of the shop, the 
store, the railroads, the trades, professions and avocations of an 
era of tense struggling, nervous, energetic existence, that has 
already brought so much of exhaustion to its hills and its valleys, 
will continue, or abate. Whether the tide of life will still ebb 
out or flow back. Will the farms be abandoned or pass into 
hands alien to our soil, our institutions, our blood, or will those 
who went from them in the flush of their young manhood to 
furnish activities elsewhere be glad in the years that are to come 
to return again, bringing the exterior gifts of fortune and the 
fragments ot their lives, to the abodes of their childhood ; bring- 
ing the tottering steps of age to the daisied fields where their feet 
tottered when they wer^e as near the dawn of life, as they have 
come to the darkness and night .^ And its shops, will they 
enlai'ge? Or, as electricity oflers its aid to transfer the water 
power to distant locations, or competition grows more fierce, 
consolidation mor'e voracious, will they pass with the employ- 
ment they aftbrd to other sites, leaving the places here that once 
knew them, to know them no more forever. In the ordering of 
a wise Heaven, which hides from all creatures the book of fate, 
we may not know. But if, in the future, as in the past, there 
shall be here happy homes, abodes of thrift, honest toil, content 
and love, where children are born to be welcomed, nourished, 
nur'tured, taught, to grow healthy, virtuous, str'ong, bright-faced 
boys, radiant girls, noble men, sweet women, whose after lives, 
whether her^e or elsewhere, shall make the world better because 
they pass through it on their way. If hei'e shall be churches for 
worship, family altars for prayer, schools for education, libr'aries 
for cultur'e, firesides, social gatherings, and home comings for 
cheer. If, when our country requires men for her defense, she 
shall find them as she has found them here, ready and glad to do, 
to dare, to die for her. If, when humanitv needs, the love of others 
shalll pass the love of self. If, when God calls, it shall matter not 
what the dutv is, and the onlv replv shall be, " Thv will be 
done," surelv then, in the future, as in the past, this shall be a 
spot beloved of all its children, worthy to be their working place 
in life, their I'esting place in death. A resting place from which, 
when the summons comes to pass to heaven, they who did their 



lS2 HIS TORY OF PLVMOUrH. 

best oil earth to make it here, will not have far to go to tind it 
there. 

Mr. Pond — W'e are to be favored by a short address by the 
Rev. M. J. Daly of Thomaston, and of the Catholic church in 
our village. 

Rev. ]M. J. Daly — Air. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen : I 
am deeply sensible of the honor conferred on me in being asked 
to take a part in this centennial celebration, and while not a resi- 
dent of the town of Plymouth, our intercourse is so close and 
our visits so frequent, that whatever atiects the interests of Ply- 
mouth concerns us. And, besitles being a resident of Thomaston, 
Plvmouth's tirst born, we have, at least in part, a right to partici- 
pate in the joys of this day ; to share in the glory of the triumphs 
and successes achieved during the last hundred years, when our 
interests were identical, before the separation took place, when 
you and we were one. 

You have listened with pleasure and pride, no doubt, to the 
beautiful and chaste address prepared by one of your own dis- 
tinguished townsmen, whose absence to-day we all regret, — and 
for whose complete restoration to health we all pray, — the loving 
tribute of a devoted and generous son to a venerable and worthy 
mother, so comprehensive and complete as to render any other 
remarks needless. Nevertheless. I cannot help availing myself 
of this opportunity of paying my tribute of respect, small though 
it be, to the sons and daughters of this now prosperous town. 

Let us go back in spirit a hundred years and try to realize 
the trials and hardships of the first early settlers. These eternal 
hills which dot yoi-ii' town like so many sentinel towers are not 
inviting to the husbandman, the soil in general is not fertile; 
nevertheless, by industry and perseverance most of it has been 
brought to a state of cultivation little inferior to the best in this 
commonwealth. The early settlers were thrifty and hard-work- 
ing, and success crowned all their undertakings. Why.'' 
Because constant endeavor attended their efforts. In war, they 
were brave and gallant soldiers ; in peace, law-abiding, God 
fearing citizens. Their inventive genius is world-wide. To 
him after whom vour beautiful village is named we owe the first 
time-piece in the way of a clock on this continent, and to those 
who succeed him is due the credit of making Plymouth known 
throughout the civilized world, for wherever yon go to-day you 
are sure to find a Seth Thomas clock. And if clocks and 
watches are useful to tell the time of day, locks are very con- 
venient to secure them and other treasures through the night, 
and here again Plvmouth comes to the rescue. See your 
mammoth building down there, with its hundreds of hands, turn- 
ing out thousands, perhaps I should have said millions, of locks 
during the vear, the result of the industry, enterprise and energy 
of Plvmouth citizens. 

You have your iron works rising up once more from the 
ruins, to be larger and grander and more beautiful than before, 
and consequently better able to contribute their proportion to 
the growth of the town. You have had vour carriage industry 



CENTENXIAI, CELEBRATION. 183 

in Plymouth, which prospered on Plymouth Hill before advant- 
ages in navigation, tran?portation, and location, deprived you of 
them. I might refer to the many other industries of your towrn, 
but they are all know-n to you. Let us hope that with the 
change for the better in the commercial world, every bench in 
these shops will be occupied, every wheel revolving, and the 
home of every operator hlled with plenty and good cheer. 

Plvmouth's sons are warriors ; they have ibught the battles 
of their country. They contributed their portion of patriotic 
citizens to the Union cause, and when the strife was over, when 
the victory was won, they returned to their homes, and since 
then have pursued the even tenor of their ways, sending legisla- 
tors to our Capitol, giving candidates to the medical profession, 
to law, and to the sacred ministry. 

There is no more forcible example of the worth of Ply- 
mouth's children than the history of him who was to have 
delivered the address on this occasion. He was a gallant and 
brave soldier, and wore the blue and fought for the Union, and 
came home, and is now honored with the ermine as a just and 
upright judge. Plymouth has had a Woodruff, and she still has 
a Whittemore, a Bradstreet, a Woods, a Warner, a Goodwin, 
a Higgins, and many others who are of the medical profession, 
and while it is true that the Fenn family seem to be born 
lawyers, seem to come into the world with a legal spoon in their 
mouths, to be an ornament to the bar as well as to the bench, it 
is nevertheless true that the Bradstreets, and the Scotts, and the 
Plums, are close competitors in their chosen profession. 

Plymouth has contributed her portion to the sacred ministry, 
and to-day Plymouth's children are discharging their sacred 
duties to many congregations. She has given children who have 
been and are the benefactors of every charity, without regard to 
class or color or creed. The very soil on which you stand is the 
gift of one of Plymouth's children, and if — which God forbid — 
the name of your illustrious benefactor should ever become 
extinct, this beautiful park and all its surroundings will per- 
petuate for all time the honored name of Baldwin. 

Yes, in all the callings and avocations of life — in agriculture, 
in mechanics, in statesmanship, in the fine arts, in medicine, 
law, and the sacred ministry, Plymouth has given children that 
have discharged their duties with credit to themselves and honor 
to their native town. And, my dear friends, what is true of 
Plymouth's sons is in their own sphere true of Plymouth's 
daughters. If the former are brave as the bravest, the "latter are 
fair as the fairest. They are the peers of any in the land ; for 
grace and dignity and all womanly accomplishments they have 
no superiors, and while it is true and possible that one of Ply- 
mouth's sons may be called upon to fill the highest position in 
this grandest land on the face of God's earth and occupy the 
Presidential chair, it is, at least to mind, far more probable that 
one of Plymouth's fair daughters will be called upon to preside 
as mistress of the White House. 

Let then the good work go on; let the achievements, the 



184 HlSTOR\ OF PLYMOUTH. 

triumphs, the successes of the past hundred years, stimulate us 
to larger undertakings, to greater achievements, to new con- 
quests, so that when we come to celebrate the second centennial 
your children and your children's children will rise up and bless 
your names and the names of your sires, for having laid a founda- 
tion so solid and enduring that time cannot change or enemies 
destroy. A hundred years of self-government, a hundred years 
of triumphs, a lumdred years of enlightenment, a hundred years 
of growth and prosperity, until the climax, peace, happiness and 
prosperity crown vour efforts to-day. All hail, then, to old 
Plymouth ! Blessed, thrice blessed be thy children ! Never 
may stain or blemish rest upon any of their characters. May 
their record in the future be what it has been in the past, a 
record for integrity of morals, of liberty, of justice and charity, 
so that Plymouth will continue to give in the future, as she has 
in the past, sons and daughters to honor every position, to fill 
with grace and dignitv everv place open to competition in 
this fair land. 

Thus will she contribute her portion of good citizens to 
town, state and nation, insuring a glorious land and continuance 
of heaven's choicest blessings, and help to keep her what she 
has been in the past, what she is at present, no doubt what God 
intended her to be and what the poet described her, " The land 
of the free, and the home of the brave." May the hundred 
garlands you lay upon her venerable head to-day be accompanied 
with the wish and with the prayer that Plvmouth, old Plymouth, 
may continue for all time to be the fruitful mother of patriotic 
and noble sons and fair and virtuous daughters. 

Mr. Pond — If a stranger should have dropped in here 
to-day, I think it must have occurred to him by this time that 
Plymouth is quite a town. We are proud of pretty nearly 
everything. Mention has been made of the three hundred 
soldieis that went from this town in the defense of our flag. 
We wish to call your attention for a brief time to one particular 
soldier, one who had a remarkable career, and in whom we are 
very much interested. We have invited his friend, Judge 
Sheldon of New Haven, to be with us to-day and to deliver a 
short address upon Dorence Atwater and the Andersonville 
record, and I take pleasure in introducing to you Hon. Joseph 
Sheldon of New Haven, who will address you upon this suliject. 

Ladies and Gentlemen : My work to-dav is to tell in a 
few words something of one of the vounger generation of the 
men of Plymouth, of one still living in the far ofl' Southern Sea, 
of whose work in the civil war this good old town has much 
reason to be proud. 

The point of interest — special and noteworthv — in his career 
as a soldier, was in connection witli the Union prisoners of war 
taken by the Confederates and held in their military prisons — 
particularly that at Andersonville ; his making secretly a copy of 
their death register while a prisoner there himself, and bringing 
it through the lines — his transfer of a right to copv it to the Gov- 
ernment and his pei-sistcnt demand for a copv himself for publi- 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 185 

cation after he had delivered his first copy to the Adjutant-Gen- 
eral Department ; his re-enlistment as a soldier, his assignment 
to duty in the expedition sent to mark the graves at Anderson- 
ville w^here his original list came into his hands in the way ot his 
duty; his placing it in his trunk and returning with it to Wash- 
ington ; his arraignment and trial by court martial on two 
charges and two specifications. One charge, that of "conduct 
to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in taking 
his list without authority from the tent of" his superior officer 
at Andersonville." Another of "laiceny in having then and 
there stolen that list from that ofKcer," his sentence by that court 
martial to a fine of $300, to forfeit all pay and allowance then 
due, and to be confined for eighteen months at hard labor, at 
such prison as the Secretary of War might designate ; to restore 
the roll to the War Department and to stand committed at hard 
labor till that fine was paid and that roll was so restored. 

It is a story that in the dangerous, important and self- 
imposed service which he rendered to his country, in his youth; 
in the penetrating intelligence with which he devised and carried 
out his work ; and in his misfortunes connected with it he recalls 
most vividly another young hero of Connecticut — Nathan Hale 
— whose work and whose fate in the revolutionary war have 
ever since been a matter of mournful pride to every true son of 
Connecticut, and whose statue now fitly adorns the Capitol at 
Hartford. 

With these general features of the case you are probably all 
familiar. You know that his list contained the first authentic in- 
telligence and the only statement in detail that ever came to the 
Union authorities in regard to the awful fsicts in relation to about 
13,000 prisoners who had died of starvation and exposure in An- 
dersonville at the hands of the Confederate authorities. Thii'ty- 
five thousand soldiers had been confined there ; more than one- 
third of these soldiers died within a few months; they died at 
the rate of 130 a day on an average, during the time covered by 
Atwater's list. 

A few prisoners that had been kept at Richmond and Belle 
Isle had been exchanged, and their deplorable condition was 
made the object of special investigation, and report by a com- 
mittee of the vSanitary Commission of which Dr. Valentine Mott, 
the eminent surgeon, was the chairman, and by a joint committee 
of Congress, of which Senator Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, 
was chairman. The evidence was substantially the same and 
the conclusions were identical. 

Surgeon Vandeknift stated that '•'one day we received 360 
prisoners from the Confederates; 14 died in 12 hours, six died 
on board the transport that brought them up from City Point." 

In April, 1S64, had occurred the horrible massacre of black 
soldiers, mostly Tennesseans, at Fort Pillow. About 300 in the 
fort were overwhelmed bv five or six thousand assailants, and 
nearlv all were murdered in cold blood after their surrender. A 
considerable part of the work was resumed and completed the 
next dav. 



lS6 IIISTOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 

In May, 1864, Secretary Stanton said that the enormity of 
the crime commitled by the rebels toward our prisoners tor the 
last several months is not known or realized by our people, and 
can but fill with horror the civilized world when the facts are 
fully revealed. 

General Hofiman, Commissary-General of Prisoners, said 
"that our soldiers in the hands of the rebels are starved to death, 
cannot be denied 

Senator Wade said "that the evidence proves beyond all 
manner of doubt a determination on the part of the rebel authori- 
ties to destroy our soldiers by privation and exposure." 

All these inferences were amply justified by the facts. 

But here in Atvvater's list were names, dates, companies, 
regiments and States, of men who had died. The numbers were 
on a prodigious scale. It was in the nature of a day by day con- 
fession under their own hands. 

It threw a side light of the highest importance upon the 
whole conduct of the Confederates after the Emancipation 
Proclamation, after the arming of the blacks and their great 
disasters in 1S64. It plainly showed how desperation, reck- 
less cruelty and inhuman ferocity marked their common determin- 
ation and their universal barbaric instincts. 

So that the time when Atwater's list came to the Govern- 
ment's hands made it specially important. It was still more im- 
portant because it was then believed it would play an important 
part in the anticipated trial of Jefierson Davis and other Confed- 
erate leaders for the wholesale murder of these thousands at An- 
dersonville, even if they were never punished for their treason. 

But its importance was greatest of all by the certain, definite, 
compact intelligence it brought to so many thousands of friends 
and relatives as to when and how their heroes lived and sufiered 
and died. 

For these, it had been originally designed, and been 
patiently worked out, and he had fully determined that they 
should have it. 

You will perhaps pardon a repetition of some of the details 
of the trial — a statement of the present legal position of his case. 

When the work at Andersonville was finished, he put his 
copy of this list into his trunk and returned with it to Washing- 
ton. A day or two after his arrival there, being asked if he had 
the list, he said, "he had, and that he wished it to be distinctly 
understood that he wanted Captain Moore to be relieved from all 
responsibility for the loss of the rolls." A clerk in the War De- 
partment asked him what he had done with the rolls. He said 
"the law allowed a man to take his own property wherever he 
could find it." They searched his room at his hotel. Atwater 
said "you can search the place but you won't find the rolls." 
The clerk asked him twice where the rolls were ; he merely said 
"they are safe, they are all safe." They searched the place but 
they did not find the rolls. 

He was an enlisted soldier in the general service ; he was 
then under arrest ; he was sent immediately to the old Capitol 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. iSj 

prison. Soon after he was arraigned and tried by a court mar- 
tial on two charges, one of conduct to the prejudice of good order 
and mihtary discipHne, the other of larceny. In this the taking 
of the roll from Captain Moore at Andersonville without 
authority — and that he stole it from Captain Moore. After a 
hasty trial he was found guilty on both charges and both specifi- 
cations and sentenced to pay a fine of $300; to be dishonorably 
discharged from the service with loss of all pay and allowance 
then due ; to be confined at hard labor for eighteen months, at 
such place as the Secretary of War might direct; to return the 
rolls and to stand committed at hard labor until this fine should 
be paid and the stolen property should be returned to the War 
Department. This was a harsh, cruel sentence, and considering 
all the circumstances of the case, it was a blunder and crmie 
Itself. 

The proceedings of the court were approved without exami- 
nation by the Major-General commanding the Department, and 
by the Judge Advocate General September 27, 1S65, and it was 
recommended that "the sentence be carried into effect. " Auburn 
State Prison was designated b}- the Adjutant-General as the place 
of his punishment. 

The Captain of the Reserve Corps who had him in charge 
at the old Capitol prison, and who was to take him to Auburn, 
remarked in his hearing: "I want that Atwater hand-cufied 
dam'd tight; I know what kind of a fellow he is; I have heard 
of him before." In irons and under guard as a felon he was 
marched through the streets of Washington to the Baltimore and 
Ohio railroad station, taken to Auburn prison on September 27, 
1S65, and in prison garb he commenced to serve out his sentence. 
It was equivalent to life sentence ; for the $300 he had received 
he had spent in his sickness and in helping his little fatherless 
brothers and sisters, and he had no property himself. His father 
had died of an illness contracted in taking care of Dorence him- 
self on his return from Andersonville. 

Atwater's friends were shocked and indignant. He remained 
at hard labor in Auburn prison for a little more than two months, 
when suddenly, by a general order of the War Department 
dated December 16, 1865, he was ordered to be immediately dis- 
charged — slmpl}' discharged — from imprisonment by order of 
the Secretary of War, no reason being given. 

Atwater states that he was released under a general pardon 
of the President on the 30th dav of November, 1S65. But no 
such pardon appears in the papers in the case, which were after- 
wards ( Julv 16, 1 866,) sent bv vSecretary Stanton to the House 
of Representatives, in compliance \vith a resolution of the House. 
The order of discharge does appear among those papers. 
That, however, was Atwater's understanding of his release at 
the time. 

He then devoted himself, first of all, continuously for forty 
days and nights, to the preparation, printing and publication of 
his list, for the benefit of those for whom chieflv it had been 
originally made. The Tribune Association published it and dis- 



1 88 



HISTORY OF PI.YMOUTH. 



tributed it broadcast. From its publication Atwater never ex- 
pected or received one cent, and the Tribune Association pub- 
lished it at its bare cost; it was on all hands regarded as a duty 
costing time and work and money, and none of them was spared. 

This dutv done first of all, Atwater immediately afterwards, 
on the 33d of March, 1S66, sent his memorial to Congress, stat- 
ing the facts and asking that they be inquired into, and that justice 
be done him. The monstrous injustice that had been done in the 
case struck the House as calling for investigation. They unani- 
mously passed resolutions calling for an investigation. This 
matter was warmly followed up by Hon. Mr. Hale, then repre- 
senting the north eastern counties of New York. 

He had made some preliminary investigations of the case 
himself; had carefully examined all the evidence on which 
Atwater had been convicted. He made this declaration to the 
House: "I say, on my reputation as a lawyer and as a man, 
that it is impossible for any intelligent man to read the record of 
that court martial without saying it is a case of the grossest and 
most monstrous cruelty and injustice that ever oppressed any 
human being." 

He had caused a copy of Atwater's memorial to be sent to 
the President, with a request that the Judge Advocate General 
be requested to really examine the case ; it had been passed over 
with only the formal examination usual in cases tried by court 
martial. That officer did re-examine the whole record, evidence 
and all, and made an elaborate report in the case to the Secretary 
ol War, for use of the President. 

That report, under date of May 10, 1S66, concluded with 
this paragraph : 

"What is now desired appears to be that the stigma resting 
on Atwater's character, arising from a conviction of felonv, be 
removed. It is suggested that no formal pardon has yet been 
issued to him, he having been released from confinement by an 
order of the VV'ar Department. A pardon mav therefore be 
issued to him, setting forth the grounds on which it is granted, 
to wit, the insufficiencv of the testimony on which his conviction 
rested. This, it is believed, would aflbrd as impressive an evi- 
dence of the President's judgment, and would as eflectually 
remedy the discredit which has attached to Atwater as would an 
attemnted annulment of his conviction and sentence." 

The Adjutant-Genei^al, who had been the chief power mov- 
ing in the prosecution from the beginning, remonstrated warmly 
against the opinion and advice of the head of the Bureau of 
Military Justice, and concluded his remonstrance with the remark 
which throws a marvellous light over his whole connection with 
the case: " Such an act of clemency (as had been recommend- 
ed) would give a coloring to his (Atwater's) false representation 
against the Adjutant-General's office." 

Thereupon the President turned the case over to the Secretary 
of War for his final action, and nothing fiuther was ever done, 
except that the War Department did send to the House, when it 
was called for, a transcript of all the evidence and every paper 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 189 

connected with the case. And it was at last all printed antl the 
opinion ol' Congressman Hale and of the head of the Bureau of 
Military Justice is amply sustained by the evidence printed, as it 
was in full, in the papers sent to the House. 

The case was undoubtedly involved in technicalities ; the pnb- 
lic business pressed from every side ; Senator Wilson, chairman of 
the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate, cut the whole 
matter short for the time by procuring for him his appointment 
as Consul to the Sechelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean, where he 
resided for several years, and was atter transferred to the Con- 
sulate at Tahiti, where he has since lived, 

Adjutant-General Townsend, I am informed, is now dead. 
His conduct in this case may possibly carry his name and fame 
farther than all his honorable career in the army. 

But it ought to be remembered that his persistent error in 
this case was not really what it seems on the surface, even now 
at the distance ol' thirty years. It was not altogether that of a 
bat-eyed, wrong-headed martinet, simply abusing power in the 
old, old way. 

It ought to be remembered that it was then a time of cjuick 
harsh judgments against subordinates, on the part of those in 
command, at the end of a long and irritating war — that money 
making schemes of every vile kind were being sprung upon the 
Government on every side, and that his soldierly instincts revolted 
against them, everyone. He seems to have mistaken Atwater 
for one of these money-making harpies. He cherished, perhaps, 
an habitual high sense of the honor and the duty of a soldier. 
Atwater had been disrespectful to the Adjutant-General's office 
in a matter in which not only his honor was involved, but also 
the bleeding hearts of thousands of his countrymen were involved, 
for whom he had braved death in its most terrible form at the 
hands of the Confederates. 

The Adjutant-General would have been incapable of acting 
the strange part he did act in this case if he had really seen the 
whole case, and his own part in it, with any moral perspective. 
If he had realized that he was acting a dieadful part in one of 
the saddest tragedies of the war. Whether he lived to regret it, 
I do not know. It is quite probable that he did, for he often after- 
wards kindly inquired about Atwater, after powerful friends had 
gathered around him, and the chairman of the Committee on 
Military Aftairs of the Senate, Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, 
afterwards Vice-President, had become his friend and benefactor, 
and he was widely recognized as one of the modest, true heroes 
of the war. It is a pity, I think, that in this life they had not 
met and passed an act of formal forgiveness and amnestv for a 
cruel wrong. Jeflerson Davis himself, and all but Wirtz, 
among the Confederates, have long since been forgiven. Their 
great violations of all law, human and divine, have been wisely 
passed over. 

It seems as if the Adjutant-General himself may well be 
included bv the friends of Atwater in the general amnesty. 

I vote him not morally so guilty as he seems at a first glance ; 



190 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

indeed, to be really not guilty at all, when we remember that the 
intent is the essence of crime. Atwater was a boy and a private 
soldier, the Adjutant-General was an officer and a martinet in 
discipline. He possibly thought he was doing God and his 
country a high service, even as Paul himself did, when he per- 
secuted the Christians even imto strange cities. 

The virtue of standing alone against the opinion of the 
world is not so common or so barren of good that we may not 
recognize and even applaud the motives of the Adjutant- 
General, while we condemn his act. 

As a fair-minded officer, he made one great sad mistake, in a 
case he did not properly comprehend. He did not think how 
his own conduct would look at the distance of thirty years. 

For one I pardon the great oflence of the late Adjutant 
General of the Army, and recommend him to tiie mercy of that 
great court martial of historv, from which, for a soldier, tliere 
is no appeal. 

While the Confederates — even those in command at the 
prison pen at x\ndersonville — have all been pardoned, the wrong 
to Atwater, one of the noblest young heroes of the Civil War — 
the true hero of Andersonville — still remains unredressed. The 
power to properly reinstate him in his true position as an honor- 
able soldier and to remove from him the stigma of a felon, 
remains alone in the Congress of the United States. 

On this day, memorable fore\er in the history of the grand 
old town of Plymouth, I ask vou, the fiiends and the townsmen 
of Dorence Atwater, to pass the following resolution : 

Whkreas, At this centennial celebration of the establishment of the 
town of Plymouth, held May 15, 1S95, the case of Dorence Atwater, a 
native of this town, was recalled to the attention of the citizens of the 
town, and the people assembled here, illustrative of his heroic character, 
the noble, disinterested and impintant service rendered by him to his 
country, and the extraordinary and cruel injustice under wliich lie has 
so long suffered ; therefore, 

R('so/7'cd, That the Representatives of this town and the Senator 
from this vSenatorial District in the General Assembly, now in session at 
Hartford, be requested to take such action in the premises as may lead 
the Congress of the United States, by joint resolution or otherwise, to 
annul the action of the court martial by which undeserved dishonor was 
cast upon Dorence Atwater, and in substance and in form to restore to 
him his unsullied name, and to give him some proper recognition of his 
services to his country. 

[The resolution was adopted at the ser\ice held in the 
afternoon.] 

Mr. Pond — We are higidv favoied to-day in having with us 
a ladv whose reputation is not confined to the State ot Connecti- 
cut, or to the United States; whose name is spoken with 
reverence and love throughout the length and breadth of the 
United States as well as abroad. Fiom her life of devotion to 
the sick and suflering, she has been classed by a recent writer as 
the greatest heroine America has ever produced. I have the 
honor of introducing to this audience Miss Clara Barton, Presi- 
dent of the American Societv of the Red Cross. 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. I91 

Miss Clara Barton, who is a personal friend of Mr. Atwater, 
made the following appeal : 

" I regret that this call has been made. I am sorry to take 
from you one moment of the time so exclusively your own, and 
yet I have been asked to say a few w^ords, to let you hear my 
voice — if you can hear it. If I were to say anything, it would 
be to remind you that thirty years ago I came into your state. 
I went through its villages, its towns, its cities — even ^our 
legislative halls, and told the story of Dorence Atwater. I even 
took him with me and showed him to the people, and I asked 
that the disgrace which rested on him be removed. I never 
failed to draw the sympathy of the people ; it was felt and under- 
stood ; but when more was asked for it failed. I said that he 
had done a work which God approved and angels smiled on. 
I asked, moreover, that the government should be asked to 
retrieve what had been done. I wanted him placed where he 
should be. When I saw this fail and death staring him in the 
face, for he was poor, sick, degraded, disheartened — a prisonei- 
of both South and North — when I saw he was not likely to 
endure it, I asked then a consulate for him in some climate 
where he might have a chance to live. It was given, and for 
twenty years he served his country in a civil capacity as faith- 
fully as he had ever done in inilitary ; not one word in all the 
state department ever rested against the work of Dorence 
Atwater as a consul. He laid that office down a few years ago 
as no longer needing it. He was no longer poor ; he had 
attained social rank that few men gain ; he had married the 
magnificent wife who graces his home, who was a royal princess 
of the line on one side and of the most scholarly blood of 
England on the other. 

"But there is something else I would say to you. In mv 
house for thirty years has remained the record that he kept and 
the dishonorable discharge that he received. In a cabinet in 
that house are the relics, the largest, perhaps the onlv collection 
of relics of the stockade of Andersonville, the poor little cups 
and spoons and ladles, and wdiatever there was that strove to 
keep lite in those poor wretches and helped them on as they 
went to their death. I gathered them there in that stockade 
with Dorence Atwater. They lie, as I told you, in that 
cabinet in my house, and along with them, on the same shelves, 
lies the dishonorable discharge of Dorence Atwater. 

"I have waited and waited, lo ! these thirty vears for the 
State of Connecticut to ask the government to draw that out of 
my hands I w^ould have it replaced by an honorable discharge 
such as it deserves. It waits; it is there, and it lies side by side 
with the relics of that fated prison. I only ask : Shall I keep it? 
Men of Connecticut, men of Plvmouth, shall I keep it there, or 
will vou direct the government to demand it of me? I will 
surrender it when you do." 

At the close of her address three cheers were given for 
Miss Barton. 

Mr. Pond — The next in order is " Remarks by Invited 



iy2 msiOKV OF Plymouth. 

Guests." We have but eight minutes to do it in and I hardly 
know where to commence. We will extend the time slightly, 
but shall confine you to just five minutes, not more than that, and 
you will hear this (pointing to the gavel) but we want to hear 
from you all. Now do not decline simply because there is a 
lack ot time. We shall call upon no one that we do not want 
to hear, and we will begin with the clerg}-. I notice that we 
have with us the Rev. Mr. Meade. Mr. Meade, five minutes. 

]Mr. Meade — I will not take five minutes, Mr. Chaiiman. I 
am glad to be with you to-day ; I rejoice in everything that you 
rejoice in here. I suppose the only reason I am here is because 
I was born here as a minister, and I am glad to stand here as one 
who has had that birth in the glorious town of Plymouth. Of 
course, everything that bears the name of Plymouth has a part 
of the honor of Plymouth Rock in it. The greatest fact, 1 
believe, of 179s? was the formation of these towns, which are the 
unit of our great Union, as has been said. The questions that 
occupied our fathers, that made them and us into citizens, have 
made our land what it is. 

I believe I am now serving a church which furnished a 
governor to this state at the time you were made a town. My 
study window looks out upon his birthplace. Samuel Hunting- 
ton was President of the Assembly of the Continental Congress 
and governor of this state ; in fact, while he lived, no other man 
was thought fit to be governor, for the last ten years of his life. 
Every town like that was raising up men to stand as citizens, as 
lawyers and as judges in our early history. 

I will not try to make a speech. I have lots of things down 
here I would like to talk about, but 1 had figured it out by a 
Thomaston watch that I sliould not get called on, and it broke 
up my whole array of facts. I rejoice with you here not only in 
the problems of government and citizenship which our fathers 
have settled, and in the great ideas which have grown out in the 
history of this town, and the inventions that have had such a 
wide influence over this country. While the people of this 
town were forming this church, a son of this town was sending 
that steamer, the first steamer, across the ocean. Churches and 
steamers go well together to make up prosperity and to build up 
the right life of a nation. From mouse traps to marine clocks 
this town of Plymouth is known over the whole land. You 
have furnished also a man, who is here — I have not shaken his 
hand yet — who furnished a cartridge to help destroy the enemies 
of his country, and now is furnishing the children of this land 
with the best methods of understanding God's Word and Christ 
the Saviour. I hope to get hold of his hand and to congratulate 
him and the town upon having produced such a man, l)ut he is 
one among man v. 

Rev. Iv. vS. Griggs, of Ivoryton — Well, Mr. President. I am 
not going to be mendacious and tell you that I will not speak 
five minutes and then be called down. The help which this 
town has rendered to our country has come largely from the 
mothers, whose hands have rocked the cradle. I am glad that 



CENTENNJAL CEI.EBR ATION. 



^93 



our brother, shall I call him — I suppose I ought to call him 
our father — representing the Roman Catholic Church, in his 
remarks rendered some justice to woman. 1 think it was very 
becoming and showed a high degree ol" good sense. Our lathers 
subdued the wilderness and courageously planted their homes 
upon these hillsides and in these valleys, so far back as 150 or 
160 years ago, and founded ecclesiastical and civil institutions 
here. VVe think of the pilgrim lathers, half of whom were put 
beneath the sod that first winter at Plymouth, in order that the 
town, the corner stone of the foundation of this republic might 
not be thrown from its place. I am filled with veneration and 
admiring afiection for these men. I want to mention one of the 
fathers, Wm. B. Ells. I think to-day of other men here, one 
has been mentioned, representing the class who remained at 
home during the war. And they were needed at home to keep 
the streams of industry running, and to preserve here the spirit 
of liberty and of devotion to the Union, to sustain at home the 
conflict in the weary march and on the bloody field of battle. 
We never will forget them, boys and girls, young men and 
young women. You should take this matter up and do justice 
to Dorence Atwater, and you, by the blessing of God, make it 
your aim that the future shall be no less marked by glorious 
achievement than the past was. 

Rev. VV.F. Arms, Essex — I know some are anxious lor dinner, 
and what can be said after what has been said already.^ The 
glorv' of Plymouth has been spoken of, and no fitter words can 
be used than those from the pen of Judge Fenn, no better eulogy 
than their own lives, their own lives of industry, and the record 
which is on high. VVe are proud of the town of Plymouth for 
what she has done. What will she accomplish in the future.'' 
We believe she has material here for further prosperity, and we 
know from the past that she will go on to increased prosperity. 

Rev. Moseley H. Williams — There are no friends like the old 
friends. I used to think there were no bo^s like the Plymouth 
boys and no girls like the Plymouth girls. I say this in confi- 
dence, I know that none of you will be mean enough to tell my 
wife in Philadelphia what I said here. (A voice : " I will,") 
Yes, I thought you would. Then I will have to explain that 
that was a long time ago. But these Plymouth boys and girls 
have one peculiarity — they get grey while they are so young. 
I don't know of any other place where boys, and possibly girls, 
are grey. Here they are. But we ai-e still boys and girls, and 
it is worth so much to me to come back. I traveled two 
hundred miles to gr-et this centennial dinner, the o-ood thing's that 
have been spread and are to be, and I won't go away to the 
dinner just for a moment, because I have observed this, that the 
longer you wait for dinner the better you like it. .So if 1 should 
speak for an hour you would be very thankfid to me because the 
dinner would taste so good. 

We sha'n't meet again, dear friends, this audience, so I just 
think of the old things that the fathers and mothers used to say. 
W^ell, we'll meet in Heaven, and that is the sweet thought, is it 



194 HISTORY OF PLV.MOUTII. 

not, after all? We break up and separate here, but if we are 
God's children, eveiy one of us, we will meet by and by in a 
reunion where we won't have to make friends. We will think 
of the past, we will be glad for the present, and we will be 
happy for the future, and we will praise God then for all the 
blessed experiences of our Plymouth life and the Plymouth 
Centennial. 

Rev. Mr. Sharp, Thomaston — I did not know until last 
night and this morning that I had such distinguished relations. 
I was born in the State of New Jersey and have always been 
proud of it. I was brought up in the State of New York and 
have always loved it. I was educated in New Haven and 1 have 
never been ashamed of it. I therefore feel that I have a good 
many fathers. You remember the story of the two boys, who, 
very much enraged, one against another, were contending in the 
street. Said one boy to the other, anxious to make him still 
more angry, "You haven't got any father."' " Have too," said 
he, " got more fathers than you." That is the way I feel just 
now. I feel that I have acquired another father, and besides 
having fathers in Warren county, N. J., I have fathers in 
Brooklyn and New York city of which I am proud, and I have 
a father and mother here in Plymouth, of which I ma}' well be 
proud. However, I came here for another purpose than to make 
a speech, as I had no intimation whatever ol doing so. I see 
that vou have got me as one of the exhibits, to which reference 
was made last night. The time for a minister to make a speech 
is not before dinner, but after dinner. There is something in 
the atmosphere of dinner time that melts out all that is gentle 
and sweet in his disposition, and he feels at home. 

In one of his books Alark Twain has a character who was 
very much interested in a frog. He had trained him to jump, 
and was ready to wager any amount of money on him. He did 
indeed collect a great deal of mone\- by the jumping activit}- of 
this frog. One dav he met a man, I suppose he must have been 
a Plvmouth man, because he beat the other man in his exhibi- 
tion of ingenuitv. Meeting the strangei', he said, " I have a frog 
here who can out-i'ump any frog you have." He was at once 
taken, and the owner of the famous frog went down to the pool 
for another frog and brought it up While this man was going 
down after the frog, the stranger had filled up the mouth of the 
distinguished frog with stone, so that he was very heavy in the 
abdomen. When the tickling operation began, to make the frog 
iump, he could not jump. Now, a minister is to be dis- 
tinguished from that kind of a frog; he can always jump further 
when his stomach is full. 

]SIaior F. W. Mix — Ladies and Gentlemen, Old Friends 
and Schoolmates : I feel this morning as though I had got a 
o-ood many things to be thankful for. First of all that I am a 
native of old Plymouth. Nearly two-thirds of a century ago, in 
sight of this tent, almost within a stone's throw, I was born. 
Forty vears or more of my life were spent in this portion of 
Plvmouth, and I must say to-dav that I have no regrets that I 



CEXTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 19^ 

was born in Plymouth. I wish I had time to tell you some of 
the thoughts that have gone through my mind as I have looked 
over the faces here this morning. Up on this hill in the old red 
school house, more than fifty years ago, I received my first 
education. Over on the flat I received more. There are some 
things I ought to tell you about. I feel thankful for the lickings 
I got over there. I did not appreciate it at the time, but as I 
look back upon it to-day, I can see it was a good lesson for me. 
There are other things, too. My friend Williams has brought 
it up to my mind. I used to think there were no girls like the 
Plymouth or Terryville girls, and as I cast my eye round the 
seats I can see two or three of my old schoolmates and sweet- 
hearts. Sitting by their side, however, are gentlemen who got 
them away from me. As I see my wife eyeing me pretty close, I 
am warned I had better say that for this, too, I am thankful. 
I do not want to finish what I have to say without calling to 
mind for the benefit of us all, some of the men that I can remem- 
ber in my boyhood da3's and up till I became a young man. In 
all the speeches that have been made I find the name of the 
Weltons left out. Back in the thirties, thirty-seven or thirty- 
eight, I think, extending up to forty-five, we had Hiram and 
Heman Welton carrying on a business that at the time was per- 
haps as large as any interest that we had. I speak of it as the 
men of those days laid the foundation of this town. Many 
things that look to us to-day small, if we will stop and think of 
it, were greater by far for this town, for the men that have gone 
forth from this town, than anything that we poor mortals are 
doing to-day. We must not lose sight of those men, we must 
not lose sight of their struggles, and further, we must not lose 
sight of the fact that all the men who built up this town of Plv- 
mouth were identified not onlv with the business of the town, 
but with this community and its church. It is what has made 
you, my friends, what you are. Will you, and the generations 
vet to come, carry on the work that those men began ? Will 
you use the means which the Almighty places in your hands for 
the benefit of your neighbors.-^ I look around here to-day and 
can see the sons and daughters that have gone forth from this 
place, occupying prominent positions. They are indebted to 
the seed that was sown by these men fifty, sixty, seventy-five 
years ago, and wherever we go let us carry the seed that was 
planted in our hearts and in our minds by the men whose life 
here was a struggle We used to hear vears ago the names of 
William E. McKee, Burnham Terry, Gaylord, John C. Lewis, 
the Weltons, and others who showed an active Interest in this town. 
Let us take it as a lesson for us, that wherever we go we may 
use all the influence in our power for the benefit of our neighbors 
and for mankind. My mother, my father, my brothers, mv 
sisters, nephews and nieces, are laid away in your cemetery, and 
when my labors are over I am coming back to the old town of 
Plymouth. The soil of this town is good enough, and the 
friends of former days, and those which I see aroimd me are 
good enough, as a guardian for what will be left of me. 



IC)6 HISTORY OF I'LYMOU'lH. 

Mr. Pond — It strikes me it would he well to change this a 
little. We have heard from two distinguished gentlemen who 
have paid a glowing tribute to the girls ol" this town and then 
have deliberately gone outside and married elsewhere. I wish 
to call upon a gentleman who was born elsewhere and came to 
Terryville to marry his wile. That seems to be more patriotic 
— next to being born in the town is to go to the town for a wife. 
General George H. Ford, of New Haven. 

Mr. Ford — Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : It gives 
me great pleasure to stand up and greet an audience composed 
of men and women who reside in and represent this town, with 
which I am associated as pei haps a son-in-law A tew years 
since my own native town of Miltord celebrated its 250th anni- 
versary, and it was with great pride and pleasure that I greeted 
my old associates and the peo|:)le of that town who gathered 
upon that occasion. My pride for my native town was increased 
and I have since considered that it was perhaps the most import- 
ant town in all this commonwealth, but, after listening to the 
addresses in the old Plvmouth Church last evening, and the 
allusions that were made to the numerous industries and 
the great and inventive men that Plymouth has produced, 
and the historical address of Judge Fenn's to-day, I must say 
that it is with pleasure that I can divide the honors between 
Milford and Plymouth. I want to say right here to the coming 
generation that you do well to recall the events of the last 
century and re-write them on the page of historv. I am in 
svmpathv with it, and I congratulate the young men o! this 
town upon the ancestry that they enjoy. I would urge them to 
perpetuate it and maintain it. New England is the biithplace 
of ideas, continue it, guard your interests here, do not be 
influenced bv the delusions of a western fe\er. vSta\ heie in 
New England and maintain what yoiu" ancestors have built. 
Keep alive the old traditions. Keep the fires burning on the 
old hearthstones, and keep in touch with your native town. 

I began to think up to a certain point that the men of the 
place were to receive all of the credit and glory, until the Rev. 
Mr. Daly alluded to the ladies, and he touched me in a spot 
where I was most interested. The men of Plymouth could 
never have achieved or accomplished what they did but for the 
mothers, the wives and the sweethearts of Plymouth, (jod bless 
them all, present, past and future. 

Mr". Pond — I understand Dr. Frank H. Whittemore is 
present. Can we hear a word from him.^ There are many 
gentlemen present whom we should be pleased to hear, but the 
hour is late and we do not think it will be advisable to extend it. 
We have numerous letters of regret, but I will not read them. 
There are many here, quite a number from Thomaston, 
whom we should be glad to hear if we had the time, but we 
have other things to attend to, and I feel that we must draw 
these exercises to a close, and we will close by singing America. 

At the conclusion of the exercises in the tent the guests of 
the occasion repaired to the basement of the Congregational 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. I97 

church where tables bounteously supplied had been spread for 
300, every seat being occupied. It was a regular old-1'ashioned 
New England spread, including apple-sauce made from a tree 
set out by Rev. Mr. Todd, now standing on J. C Fenn's farm. 
In the afternoon a concert was held in the tent, Colt's orches- 
tra rendering the following programme, repeating in addition the 
overture, "William Tell," given during the morning: 

"War March of the Priests from Athalia," Mendelssohn 

Overture, "Fra Diavolo," .... Auber 

Solo for Cornet, "Cavatina." "Robert II Diavolo." Meyerbeer 

Performed by Robert R. Hall. 

Intermezzo, from "Cavalleria Rusticana," Mascagani 

Traumerei (For String In.struments Only) vSchumann 

Grand Selection, "Faust," Gounod 

Overture "Poet and Peasant," Suppe 

The concert was enjoyed by an overflowing tent full of peo- 
ple. Probably more than i,ooo attended at each service, morn- 
ing and afternoon. 

The centennial services closed with an organ recital in the 
Congregational Church at 8 p. m., the building being full. 
Following is the programme given : 

Grand Ch<eur, in E flat Guilmont 

Russian Romance H. Hoffmann 

Song, "The Magic Song" Myer Helmund 

Mr. (7. Robert Merriman. 

Finale, from 5th Symphony Beethoven 

Bourree, in B minor Dupont 

Song, "In Maytime" Becker 

Miss Jessie L. Griggs. 

March, from "Aida" Verdi 

" Liebe.slied" Nevin 

Scmg, "As the Dawn" Cantor 

]\Ir. Jesse R. Gaylord. 

Communion, in (x major Batiste 

Overture, "The Pearl of Bagdad" Loretz 

The centennial proved itself a success, and the exercises, 
under Mr. Pond s direction, were carried out admirably and to 
the satisfaction of alU. 

It was a grand reunion of not only those who lived nearb}-, 
but of former residents who had become scattered in all direc- 
tions. A large number of prominent people from other towns 
were also present. Registers were provided, that all who 
attended were requested to sign. 

The Town Hall was used for the loan exhibition, which was 
filled with curios that made a display worth going miles 
to see. The list is published elsewhere, followed by the letters 
of regi'et. 

Such an undertaking is only accomplished by hard work, 
and while the various members did their work well, special 
credit should be given to Jason C. Fenn, who did the clerical 



uiS 



HISrORV OF I'LVMOUIH. 




Loan Lxhibit. 
General View. 




Exliibit lit Furniture. 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



'99 



work and attended to all the big and little details, which only 
those who have looked after such things can appreciate. 
The exhibits in Town Hall were as follows : 

CHINA, lil.ASS AM) OTHKR TAHLKWARK. 

China — Chas. Purrington. 

Large tumbler — C. I. Allen. 

Old crockery, two pewter platters, "Jcihnnv Bull" pitcher — W. F. 
Tt)lles. 

Crockery, pie plate, old bottle, large tumbler — Miss Celinda Allen. 

Salt di.shes (70 years old) — Mrs. Bassett. 

Pewter plate, tea pot — Sam-uel ToUes. 

Milk pitcher and sugar bowl, cup and saucer — Miss Hattie Tolles. 

Plate— Mrs. Stone. '^ 

Two di.she.s — Mrs. Egan. 

Tea pot, decanter — Mrs. Chid.sev. 

Plate— Mrs. Harold. 

Glass — Mrs. Holcomb. 

Beer gla.ss, china, etc. — Mrs. Fenn. 

Tea pot, sugar bowl — Mrs. Arthur Beach. 

Pewter platters, spoons, earthen bowl, glasses, etc. — Mrs. D. Barker. 

Spoons, sugar tongs — Mrs. Griswold. 

Cup, saucer — Mrs. George Beach. 

Pitcher— Mrs. L. Hough. 

Di.sh — Mi.ss Bailey. 

Silver teaspoon — Mrs. R. W. Plumb. 

Salt cellars, spoon — Mrs. D. Mills. 

Blue bowl, plates, cups and saucer — Mrs. Jason Clemence. 

Knife and fork (100 years old), gravy bowl, cup and saucer — Mrs. 
W. W. Cone. 

China plate, cup and saucer, pitcher (60 years), jaitcher and tea pot 
(100 years), china plate (100 years), sugar bowl (100 years), sugar bowl 
and platter (150 years), crockery, silver cream and tablespoons — Mrs. 
W. G. Plumb. 

Cup and saucer — Mrs. F. J. Judd. 

Blue pitcher and bowl — Mrs. William Bates. 

Decanter and wine glasses (100 years), punch glasses, silver spoons 
—Mrs. E. S. Beach. 

Teapot, engraved in China, two plates — Mrs. A. P. Clark. 

Silver spoons (100 years) — Mrs. R. J. Plumb. 

Plates and bowl — C. H. Baldwin. 

Sugar tongs — E. G. Woodward. 

Sugar tongs (100 years), wine glass (103 years) — Mrs. Homer Cook. 

Baby's cup (75 years) Mrs. E. R. Rouse. 

Silver spoon — Mrs. W. T. Goodwin. 

Goblets and decanter — Mrs. Loomis. 

Quart tumblers — C. P. Gaylord. 

Glass decanters and two tumblers, bottles — C. Throop. 

Blue crockery, teapot and sugar bowl (Wilkie pattern), sugar bowl 
(nearly 100 years old), pink teapot — H. E. Hinman. 

Set of China, 60 years — C. S. vSmith. 

Blue crockery, baby cup — Mrs. Rice. 

Crockery, pink and blue — Mrs. A. I. Kinne. 

Two pewter plates, pink teapot and pitcher — Mrs. Chas. Johnson. 

Pitcher and platter — Mrs. Chas. Keeke. 

Four pewter platters (in set) — Mrs. H. Holt. 

Toddy glass nearly 100 years old — A. H. Peck. 

Blue tureen and platter, pewter porringer, teapot, cup and saucer, 
milk pitcher, decanter — F. H. Kellogg. 

Punch bowl, pewter trencher, sugar bowl — Levi Bassett. 

Salt cellar (over 100 years old, belonged to German duke), Mrs. H. 
Miller. 



200 niS'l'OUV OF PLVMOUTU. 

Tea cup — Mrs. Russell. 

Little black teapot, sugar bnwl, milk cup — Mrs. Bn)\vii. 
Silver bowl, teapot — Mrs. N. Beach. 

Silver spoons (made from (General Washington's spurs*), wooden 
plates — P. Cowles. 

Large platter (114 years old, brought from Ireland) — Mrs. Munane. 
Toddy glass, plate (60 years old) — Mr. Adams. 

FANCY WORK. 

Bead bag (6 years) — E. S. Beach. 

Sampler — G. Boyington. 

Sampler (60 years) — R. J. Plumb. 

Needle work (picture), pocket book — Mrs. K. (yaylord. 

Embroidery — Mrs. Rouse. 

Needle case — W. T. Goodwin. 

Hand embroidered lawn collar — F. P. Tollcs. 

Beaded bag — Mrs. Rice. Alst) beaded necklace. 

Tidy (knit by lady over (jo years old) — Mrs. Warner. 

Sampler, cloth spun by child 10 years old — Mrs. W. Clark. 

Two beaded purses — Mart. Camp. 

COMHS, lirrKI.KS, K'l'C. 

Silver shoe buckle — A. P. Clark. 

Bull's eye watch— Miss C. Allen. 

Comb — Mrs. Lyman. 

Locket — Mrs. Stone. 

Back comb, buckles, silver sleeve buttons — C. Holt. 

High back comb — G. H. Bates. 

Rivetted ivory comb — Mrs. F. Ryals. 

FLKNniKK. 

Brass clock (first one made by Eli Terry) — C. I. Allen. 

Chair of ex-Governor Trumbull — W. H. Scott. 

Chair — C. Purrington. 

Settle, secretary— W. F. Tolles. 

Stand — Celinda Allen. 

Chair— Mrs. F. Alford. 

Clock, stand, looking glas.s — Mrs. Purcell. 

Chair— Mrs. A. John.' 

Chair— Mrs. Chidsey. 

Looking glass — Mrs. O'Donnell. 

Looking glas.s — Mrs. Geo. Beach. 

Three-legged stand (hand made, carved, very old) — Mrs. Decker. 

Chair (over 100 years old) — C. Holt. 

Captain's sea chest — F. H. Kellogg. 

Chair (about 130 years), looking glass (ancient) — Mrs. Warner. 

Armchair (over 120 years) — Mrs. N. Beach. 

Chair, belcmging to Dr. W^m. Woodruff's father — John Cronan. 

Chest of drawers, armchair — Mrs. Hough. 

Three-legged cherrv stand — j. Clemence. 

Table— H. D. Allen. 

High chair (75 years), chair {()o years), chests — W. (t. Plumb. 

Mahogonv table — Mrs. Ludholtz. 

Chairs— E. S. Beach. 

Table (150 years), mirror ( 150 vears) cliair — W. (t. Cioodwin. 

Splint-bottom chair — A. (^riffin. 

*After Geortfe Washintftoii's death in 1700, his silver spurs were handed down 
to his cousin, Norman Woodruff, who was the father of James and John Woodruff', 
who lived in Terryville man\- years. Norman Woodrufi was Mrs. S. F. Minor's 
grandfather, the spurs being inade into spoons in 1842, at the time of the marriage 
of her mother, by Rogers & Co. Mrs. Minor is also a descendant of Stephen Hart, 
who "forded" the river in 163=;, from whence Hart — ford derived its naine. 



CENTENNIAL CELEUK A TION. 20I 

Chairs — S. Fenn. 

Chair (200 years old) — Mrs. A. Mouldthrop. 
Locker — E. Hinman. 
Mirror, chair — Miss Ann Brooks. 
Chair— Mrs. C. Troop. 
Gilt-framed mirror — Mrs. Rice. 

Child's chair— A. I. Kinne. (Wittled with jackknifc and used for 
three generations. ) 

Clock and table — Chas. Johnson. 

Old chairs and round table — Mr. Winslow. 

Bureau, with swell front— Mrs. Armsbuster. 

Old stand — Kate Hanley. 

Chair — G. Baldwin. 

MACHINKS AM) WKAVIXCi AI'1'1. 1 A N( 'KS. 

Spinning wheel, linen and wool — W. G. Plumb. 
Spinning wheels and reels — S. Fenn. 
Spinning wheel and linen wheel — Mrs. Rice. 
Machine for dressing cloth — C. P. Gaylord. 
Spinning wheel — H. Hinman. 
Tape loom — Mr. Winslow. 

Flax brake, flax, tow, clock wheels (hand made), t >w card— W. F. 
Tolles. 

Flax wheel, flax, tape loom, hetchel, card for wool— Miss. C. Allen. 
Tow rolls, reel, cards, hetcheled flax, h:)me-spun yarn— C. Holt. 
Hetchel— A. J. Adams. 
Crimping machine from England — Mrs. B. Curtis. 

WICAl'ONS W WAKFARI-'.. 

Sword used in French and Indian war — A. P. Clark. 

Flintlock gun (150 years)— C. H. Baldwin. 

Flint box — A. T. Kinne. 

Ball from old United States steamer— D. (t. Cooper. 

Pistol — A. Lane. 

Guns— S. Tolles. 

Flintlock musket (in war of 1S12)— Mrs. Hough. 

i;kiiI)Im;, t.\.hi.k sprkaos and i.inkn. 

Blue coverlet (100 years)— W. (x. Plumb. 

Hand-made Irish li'nen towels (50 years) — Mrs. M. O'Brien- 
Woolen blanket and quilt (75 years)- Chas. Clemens. 

Blanket — A. Griffin. 

Rose coverlet — Mrs. Goodale. 

Red quilt, from Ireland — Kate Hanley. 

Table spread — Mrs. Lyman. 

Blanket — Mrs. Holcomb. 

Home-made table cloth — D. Barker. 

Old linen — Miss Bailev. 

Table spread— R. W. Plumb. 

Linen, bed quilt (1,950 pieces, Si years old)— Miss. C. Allen. 

Spread — Samuel Tolles. 

Table cloth (100 years)— Miss H. Tolles. 

Pillow slips and towel — Mrs. Russell. 

Cloth made in Sanwich Islands from bark, brought to United States 
in 185 1, mat ditto, home-made linen, linen pillow .slips and handkerchief, 
towel (109 years) — G. H. Bates. 

l'l(;ilRKS AM) TAINIINi;. 

Pictures— Mrs. Terrill. 
Two portraits (1775) — E. vS. Beach. 
Oil painting — ^Irs. Rouse. 
Picture (1S49)— W. T. Goodwin. 



HISTORY OF I'I.VMOL: III . 




Clock Exhibit. 




Exhibit of Paintiiit;s 



CENTENNIAL CEEEBEi ATION. 203 

Oil painting — C. P. Gaylord. 

Oil painting- — Mrs. Rice. 

Photos — W". Scott. 

Paintings (two portraits on ivory, 60 years) — ]\Irs. Warner, 

Silouetfe of gold leaf painting — Mrs. Ryles. 

IIOOKS AM) I'AI'ERS. 

Books — Mrs. Chidsev. 

Certificate, with signatures of (t. Washington and Jno. Knox, auto- 
graphs — C. I. Allen. 

Primer — Geo. Bushnell. 

Bible (183 years), books (Wm. Tell, 1S27 and 1836), sjielling book— 
W. F. Tolles. 

Geography (90 years)— Miss H. Tolles. 

Account book — F. J. Judd. 

Old music and book— A. P. Clark. 

Books — J. Starr. 

Letter sealed (1S3 years) — Mrs. H. Cook. 

Family register — Sirs. Rice. 

Paper from Burmah— Mr. Saterlee. 

Book (1749, translated from a book written by a Brahmin)— Mrs. W. 
Clark. 

Reward of Merit (75 years old), book ("American Oracle," 104 years 
old), geography (1S17), Morse's Atlas (70 years), spelling book (1815)— 
Mrs. G. Bates. 

German book (i734) — W. John. 

Book (100 years)— Mrs. F. Ryals. 

MONEY. 

One French coin, German coins — Mrs. W. John. 
Portuguese coin — Mrs. H. Miller. 

$5.00 Confederate bill, passed through the keyhole at Libbey prison 
— Mrs. Curtiss. 

Money — Mrs. D. Barker. 
Mexican dollars — F. C. Goodwin. 

CLOTIU.Ni;. 

Cloak— Mrs. Cone. 

Shawls, belt, baby cape (worn by Mrs. Beacli's mother), lace ved— 
E. Beach. 

Petticotit (belonged to the wife of Rev. Andrew Storr's)— Mrs. 
Gaylord. 

" Shawl — Carl Baldwin. 

Old gown — Mrs. Rouse. 

Silk cravat— Mrs. W. T. Goodwin. 

Hand-embroidered lawn collar — F. P. Tolles. 

Beaded necklace — Mrs. Rice. 

Pointed slippers — Mrs. A. Kinney. 

Swallow-tail coat — W. Tolles. 

Three old capes (white), shawl, man's hat, ladies' l)onnet.s— Miss 
Celinda Allen. 

Muff, bonnet— Mrs. Holcomb. 

Cape, stockings — Miss Bailey. 

Chinese slipper (which has been worn by Chinese lady)— Mrs. C 
Holt. 

Men's linen hose, pointed slipper, striped linen trousers— Mrs. C. 
Holt. 

Ancient shawl— Mrs. Martin Camp. 

Two ancient bonnets (black straw, made by Mrs. Beach's sister 
when 13 years old), also outside pocket (worn 100 years ago)— Mrs. 
Nathan Beach. 

Shawl (80 years old), slippers — Mrs. Geo. Bates. 



204 



IIISTOKV OF PLVMOUril. 



Holt. 



MISCKl.I.ANKUL'S. 

Candle mould — Mrs. K. S. Gaylord. 

Turnkeys — A. Kinne. 

Thermometer, radiametre — D. G. Co )per. 

Steel-yards— Mrs. A. John. 

Goose— Mrs. D. Barker. 

Bellows — Mrs. George Beach. 

Bread toaster — L. Hough. 

Bread tray for kneading bread — Mrs. George Bates. 

Andirons — Mrs. Tomlinson. 

Bread tray — Mrs. Hough. 

Goose (150 years old) — Mr. Adams. 

Wooden shovel — Mrs. Burton Curtis. 

Brass kettles, candle lantern, foot stoves, warming pan — Mrs. H. 



Foot stoves, warming pan — C. Holt. 

Ancient horn — F. Kellogg. 

Foot stove — L. Bassett. 

Willow basket (for yarn when knitting) — Mrs. Watson Clark. 

Andirons, snuffers and trav — Mrs. Brown. 




Miscellaneous E.xhibit. 



Wooden mortar (made in England, over 175 years old) — Mrs. N. 
Beach. 

Wooden bowl (200 vears old), knitting needle case (45 vears old) — 
Mrs. G. Bates. 

Pearl fish hook — D. G. Cooper. 

Minerals, also purse — C. Purrington. 

Foot .stoves, gridinms, knitting needle case, tin kmtern, mortar — 
W. Tolles. 

Bread tins, snuti'er, razor — Miss C. Allen. 

Jack knife— Miss H. Tolles. 

Foot stove, lantern — Mrs. Fenn. 

Fire shovel — Miss Bailey. 

Warming pan — Mrs. I). Mills. 

Mortar— H. D. Allen. 

Tin lantern, foot stove — F. Judd. 

Warming pan (300 years old) — D. Griffin. 

Warming pan (100 years old) — E. S. Beach. 

vSide-saddle (over 100 j-ears) — A. P. Clark. 



CENTENXIAI, CEI.EB RATION'. 205 

Cane (1703) — J. Starr. 

Candle snuffers — E. L. Pond. 

Stone from oldest frame house in America — W. L. Norton. 

Foot stove, band-forged pitch fork — Mrs. Rouse. 

Tin apple dish — W. F. Goodwin. 

Brass andirons — .Steven Fenn. 

Glass candle sticks — Mrs. Loomis. 

Wooden bottle — Mrs. Ann Brooks. 

Copper warming pan — A. I. Kinne. 

Warming pan — Charles Johnson. 

Bible (1706), old books, clarionet, large blue mug brought from Eng- 
land by Stephen Bucknall, silver tea measure, old scales, lace collar, 
linen — E. M. Talmadge. 

Copy of fir.st edition of " Hartford Courant" — E. M. Talmadge. 

Fac-simile of first new.spaper published in the United States, (1703,) 
sugar bowl, book case — W. S. Edgarton. 

Paintings cm glass, Chinese paintings, wooden trav — Miss E. B. 
Wells. 

Lace, long shawl of Madame Bellamy's, caps worn by Mrs. Hart 
when an infant, tin tea caddy, pewter porringer, N. E. primer — Mrs. .S. 
Kellogg. 

Books, worked table cover, pewter — Mrs. M. Leach. 

Boot-jack used in the family by successive generations for 150 
vears, tinder box, weaver's shuttle, wooden saucer used through the 
"Revoluti(mary War, hatchet, books, notes on farming, i7f)4. The In- 
structor, 1767, dictionary — Mrs. John Warner. 

Butter moulds, .spoon moulds, gun 150 years — Mr. Sheldon Potter. 

Platters, bread bags, embroidered shawls, stand, chair, bed spread, 
toilet cover, shell fan, comb — Mrs. George Langdon. 

Chairs, clock, one of the first Wheeler &• AVilson sewing machines — 
Mrs. George Wedge (Todd Hollow). 

Chair — Mrs. Helen Hough. 

Decanter — Mr. Chauncey Beach. 

Very curious stand, 200 years, bible, 1767, shuttle for weaving car- 
riage lace, chair of Miss Anna Darrows, pitcher and plate, linen lace 
cap border, all from Scotland except the chair — Mrs. Walter Webb. 

Blue covered dish — Mrs. Whiting. 

Chair, 100 years, sugar bowl — Mrs. Amos Barnes. 

Teapot, baskets, boy's stockings knit of linen, books, wheels and 
swifts, grain fan — Mrs. A. P. Fenn. 

Prayer book and Bible (presented by the English S(jciety for the 
Propagation of the Go.spel), contribution boxes — St. Peter's Church. 

Minerals, crocker}', spectacles, snuffers and tray, bread trays, knife 
(17S5), singing book — Mrs. Enos Blakeslee. 

Plates, platters, salt cellar, double foot stove (made m Plymouth), 
"Litchfield Monitor" (containing notice of Wa.shington's death), collec- 
tion of coins — Mrs. Arthur Beardsley. 

Pitch pipe, singing books (with patent notes and wooden cover — 
John Bradley. 

Tin lantern, pewter lamp, cup and plate, tea pot, looking glass, key 
for unlocking bolt, scrap book, books, N. E. primer, .spelling books, 
Lindley Murray grammar, sermons, etc. (samples of three generations) 
— ]\Irs. J. B. Atwood. 

Chairs, wheels and reels, candlesticks, forks, .shears, quilt, ■ toddy 
stick— Mrs. S. J. Hoadley 

Turnkey— Dr. Heath. 

Front of pulpit from the First Congregational Church — Mrs. E. J. 
Morse. 

Shell comb — Mrs. Porter Rice. 

Tin oven and dripping pan, Indian seal]) knife (found near house), 
silk dress waist, old calico — Mr. Charles Baldwin. 

Chair (125 years old) — Mr. Cyrus Skilton. 

Sword used in Revolution — Mr. H. Ploucquet. 



2o6 HlS'l'ORV OF PLYMOUTH. 

Old blue china, with curious fish platter (brought from China), chairs, 
table, soap dish (for soft soap), candle sticks, bread basket, carders, 
Bible— Mr. Wni. Bull. 

Cherry table (1 50 years), turnpike fare board, full collection of green- 
backs, glass mug, etc. — Byron Tuttle. 

Cup made from Charter Oak, known to be genuine — Mr. A. J. Hill. 

Corn fan (for separating chaff from grain), tool used t(j form inside 
of pewter tumblers (manufactured on Town Hill about 1S30), "conch 
shell" (supposed to be 100 3'ears old, once owned by Jared Blakeslee), 
nail maker's hammer (used by Randall Mathews before the days of cv:t 
nails), flax (ready to spin) and linen shirt (from same crop, grown by 
Elam Fenn about 1S57), pewter faucet (patented about iSio by Gains 
Fenn and manufactured on Town Hill), folding table (100 years old),^ 
sheep shears — Jason C. Fenn. 



LKTTERS OK REGRET. 



StATK (il- CON.NKCTICUT, EXKCUTIVK DkI'ARTM K.NT, / 

Hartford, May 14, 1895. \ 
Chairman Co.m.mi tikk o.n Celebration, Town of Plymouth, Terrv- 

viLLE, Conn. 

Dear Sir — (lovci'iior Coffin duly received your kind invitation to at- 
tend the celebration to-day and to-morroAv, and has been hoping to be 
present at the exercises this afternoon or evening, or to-morrow. 

The pressure of official business has, however, been and remains so 
severe that he has been compelled, under the orders of his physician, to 
cancel all engagements other than those which it is impossible for him 
to omit without disregarding his official duties. 

He instructs me to thank you, and those whom you represent, most 
cordially, for your thoughtful attention, and to express his sincerest 
good wishes for the complete success of your very interesting and im- 
portant celebration. Yours truly, 

Frank D. Haines, 

Executive Secretary. 



New Haven, May 11, 1895. 
Richard Baldwin, Es(j., Terry ville. Conn. 

Dear Mr. Baldwin — I have anticipated attending the celebration in 
Plymouth next week, with a great deal of pleasure, but yesterday en- 
gagements came up which will make it impossible for me to be present. 

Thanking you for your kind invitation and with best wishes for the 
success of the event, I remain. Yours truly, 

C. E. HoADLI'.Y. 



New York, May 13, 1895. 
Mk. Jason Fenn : 

M3' Dear Sir — I had hoped to be with you on Plymouth's Centennial, 
but much to my regret, I shall be unable to do so. Please express my 
thanks to the committee for their kind invitation. My great great 
grandfather, Moses Foote, and his wife, Ruth Butler, were among the 
early settlers of Northbury and members of the old church there, as 
early as 1749. 

Four stalwart sons grew up and became members of the old church, 
with their wives, and two of their sisters. Three of the sons were in 
.service in the Revolution from old Northbury, and two of them, in that 
great struggle, gave up their li\-es for their country. One, Ebenezer, 
died while in service in 1778, at Horse Neck (now Greenwich), Conn., 
and in the same year his widow, Rebecca, and his sister, Lydia (wife of 
Isaac Curtis), united with the old church. So afflictions not infrequently 
lead us to the cross. David was killed by the British at Fairfield in 
their attack upon that place in 1779. He and his wife were members 
and had been for manj- years. In 1769, ten of the Foote family o-. 
mature age were members of the church under Mr. Storrs' ministry*^ 



2oS HISTORV OF 1'I.^ M < )L!'J1I. 

and witli their families attended his church. The membership was then 
about no, and about one in eleven of the members bore the name of 
Foote. 

It was wonderful how well the Foote's liked the Bronson's. The 
three oldest sons married three daughters of John Bronson, Jr. David 
married Comfort, Moses married Thankful, Aaron married Alary, and 
then, as there were probably no more to be had, the next son, Ebenezer, 
married Rebecca Barker. 

The next and youngest son, Obed, then aged 20, ni}- great grand- 
father, married Mary Todd, the minister's daughter, then about 19 
years of age, and the eldest of her father's family. Tradition has it 
that she was a favorite with the young people and with all. Both were 
members of her father's church. We can, perhaps, imagine the prepara- 
tions for the wedding, the prior announcement from the pulpit, as cus- 
tomary in those days, the procuring of the license, and finally, when 
all preparations complete, the gathering of young men and maidens of 
the congregation, the parents, and the simple ceremony of the marriage 
of the minister's daughter. Eleven children were the fruit of the happy 
marriage, and all grew to maturity. Seven of them were born in good 
old Northbury and were baptized in the old church, and one of these, 
my grandfather Samuel, was baptized there on May 27, 1770. In later 
years he used to say that when a boy he lived in the northeast part of 
the town, near Poland river, and used to go two or three miles to meet- 
ing, that Rev. Storrs was their minister and wore a big white wig. The 
farm where he lived in boyhood was sold in 1779 to Ozias Tyler for 
SS,ooo, Continental money. 

A sterling set these eleven children were, and Mary Todd brought 
them up to be a blessing to the community. One of them, in the year i S47, 
in writing his remembrances of his grandfather, Rev. Samuel Todd, 
says : "I shall not forget how he used to shake his large white wig 
when any one of my good mother's little flock made a mistake in the 
old Westminister catechism." These eleven children were possessed of 
more than ordinary talent, and each filled a sphere of usefulness in their 
day and generation. And in tiirn they brought up their children well. 
Several were judges on the bench, several legislators, several ministers. 
One of Mary Todd's children (Bernice Foote) had four sons, three of 
whom were ministers, who were a power in the land in their day. The 
Christian influence of Obed and Mary Foote still lives among their 
numerous descendants from generation to generation. 

I send 3'ou, as a loan to the centennial loan exhibition, an old- 
fashioned silhouette of Mary Todd Foote, made when she was advanced 
in years. I also send you a spoon made by Joseph Hopkins, of Water- 
bury. You will find a biographical sketch of him in Bronson's History 
of Waterbury, page 411. This spoon was made for Rev. Samuel Todd 
about 1755 to 1760. It bears the maker's name, stamped on the handle. 
It bears the engraved initials T. , S. M., standing for Todd, Samuel and 
Mar}-. It is not silver. ^Ministers in those days, with a salary- of ;^ioo a 
year, like Mr. Todd's, payable in "Old Tenor" Connecticut currrency, 
could not afford to buy silver, e.specially as it took eleven shillings old 
Tenor paper currency, in which his salary was paid, to buy tme shilling 
in silver. 

And this brings me to nij- most worthy ancestor. Rev. .Samuel Todd, 
whose daughter married Obed Foote. He was Northbury' s first minis- 
ter. Here he came, with his young wife Mercy Evans, at the age of 
twenty-three, in 1740, to give to the new church of Northbury the best 
efforts of an earnest life. They were soon established in their new 
home, the house built for them by the good peo])le. The size of it was 
25x32, as appears from the records. In Northbury all his children were 
born, and here twenty-four of the best years of his life were given de- 
votedly to the people of this church and community. It was a time of 
great trials. The controversy between the "old lights" and the " new 
lights " was at its height during these years, only equalled by that 
eighty years later in Massachusetts between the orthodox Congregation- 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 209 

alists and the Unitarians, disrupting churches and pastoral relations 
with their flocks. Mr. Todd was one of the "new lights." Financial 
troubles, too, came to vex the people. When Mr. Todd came in 1740 at 
;^ioo per year in 'Old Tenor" paper currency and fire wood, it took a 
little over three shillings, "Old Tener," to buy a silver shilling. Paper 
money increased so that in 1755 it took eleven shillings of "Old Tener" 
currency to buy a silver shilling. In the meantime, with a growing 
family, a fixed salary payable in a constantly depreciating currency, 
frequent changes were necessary to correspond with depreciation in 
money, and this led to complaints, for pastor and people both suffered. 
The church was in its infancy, a feeble church struggling to pay its ex- 
penses, and to build and finish their new church, and it was not done 
for nearly twenty years. Then this currency inflation culminated in 
1756 and was succeeded by a violent currency contraction, for the colony 
of Connecticut decided to pay only one shilling silver for nine of its old 
tenor currency and to repudiate the remainder, and it did so. In this year, 
Mr. Todd, knowing the burdens of his people, presented the following: 
"To the society meeting at Northbury, February 12, 1756: Christian 
brethren and friends, there are evidently many difficulties subsisting 
among us, in particular with regard to my support among you, the 
which we have great reasons to suspect is otie great ground and 
rise of all the rest, the which is just ground of great humiliation and 
lamentation, as greatly threatening our ruin. Yet, I think I can truly 
say, I am free to serve you in the work of the ministry so long as there 
is a hopeful prospect of doing service to your souls. And as this day 
you have been consulting to find out some method hcjpefally to make the 
aft'air with regard to my support more comfortable, and have concluded 
upon none, I would therefore propose to your consideration the one 
method, in order for my support in the time to come, and that is by free 
contribution ; and to this end to have a public contribution once in two 
months on the Lord's day at the close of the evening worship, to be gath- 
ered by the deacons, to begin the first Sabbath of March next, and what 
any one shall see it their duty to hand in at other time, it .shall be accept- 
able, and if the society please you may make a grant of the ministry 
money to me. If this society agree in and desire, record may be made 
thereof, and I will serve you by the grace of God, as long as God by 
his providence shall continue me in the work of the ministry among 
you. Requesting an interest in your prayers that I may be abundantly 
faithful and successful among you, from yours to serve in the order of 
the Gospel. Samuel Todd." 

We have no one to narrate to us the trials of those times, through 
Queen Anne's war and the old French war. Nor do we know what was 
the harvest resulting from the good seed sown by Mr. Todd in those 
years of discouragement and trial. Rev. E. B. Hilliard wrote to me in 
1892: 

"I have a very high estimate of Mr. Todd. He was the Apostle of 
Plymouth in the truest sense of the term, and deserves the highest 
honor the town can pay him. I have proposed that we endeavor to 
erect a tablet to his memory in the Plymouth church." 

Twenty-four of his best years had been given to Northbury when 
in 1764 he was dismissed at his own request. The next two years he 
preached at Lane.sboro, Mass. Then he went to Adams, Mass., a new 
settlement, where he organized the first Congregational church, and was 
its pastor for twelve years. 

After the close of his pastorate he served as chaplain in the Conti- 
nental army for a short time, but his health and age (now past sixty), 
forbade his continuance and he retired from that service. His son 
Samuel, born in Northbury, about this time was in Williams' Massachu- 
setts' regiment in the Burgoyne campaign and was at his surrender at 
Saratoga. Rev. Mr. Todd with his wife retired first to his sister's at 
Northfield, Mass., and thence in 1782 to Oxford, N. H., where after 
preaching occasionally in the new settlements, as he was able, he finally 
received the Master's summons June 10, 1789, aged 72. His widow 



3IO HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

died September 14, 1S04, aged 87. Grave stones mark their burial place. 
Their memory should be tenderly cherished by the church of their early 
labors, to which was devoted their life's best work. 

So man}' of my ancestors spent their days at old Northburyin early 
times that I feel interested in this centennial, and I much regret that I 
cannot be present. But I send greetings in behalf of the descendants 
of Rev. Samuel Todd and Mere}' Evans Todd, and of Obed Foote and 
Mary Todd Foote, to the good people of Plymouth and those who cele- 
brate the day with them. May it be a day of thanksgiving for the bless- 
ings of the last hundred and fifty years, and for our Christian ancestry ! 

Let eloquence, poetry, music and history combine to make the da}' 
interesting for young and old. All honor to our Plymouth ancestry I 
and may their virtues be perpetuated in their descendants. 

I am, vours with sincere respect, Hokack Allen Footk. 



New York, May 13, 1S95. 
GEOR(iE Lan(;don, Esq., Plymouth, Conn.: 

Dear Sir: — I cannot but feel thankful for the invitation kindly sent 
to me to be present at the Plymouth Centennial Celebration on the 14th 
and 15th of May, inst. Were it possible I would gladly be with you on 
that occasion. It wotild be a pleasure to me to make once more even a 
short visit to Plymouth, my birthplace, and especially at such a most 
interesting time as siirely may be expected. 

Although my "home life" in Plymouth was only a "span long," my 
visits there during my boyhood days were frequent and fondly remem- 
bered, as is also a year at the academy. All my recollections of the town 
and its people are full of pride and of gladness. Pride, that I was born 
among the "rock-ribbed hills" of Litchfield County, where the breezes 
of heaven are fresh and pure, but no purer than were the thoughts 
and the purposes which insjjired the hearts and uplifted the souls of the 
sturdy and earnest men and women of that far-famed section of old 
Connecticut. 

With gladness, because of the many days spent there, days such as 
fill a small boy's whole being with delight, tramping over the hills and 
through the woods on cool, crispy, yet sunny autumn mornings — 

"When the soimd of dropping nuts is heard, 
Though all the trees are still." 

Then, too, at the annual feast of good tiings — chicken pies, roast 
goose and Indian puddings (boiled in a bag) — prepared so temptingly 
by the dear old grandmother at Thank.sgiving times. Later on the 
moonlight evening sliding down "Flag Hollow Hill." When early 
spring time came, there was the tapping of the maple trees back on the 
hillside, the boiling of pails and pails of the sap — impatiently, perhaps 
— waiting for the result, but by and by rejoicing because the sweetest 
and the hest maple sugar ever tasted was the product. 

A little later, when the sun poured down its summer heat, came 
frequent bathing and splashing in the little streamlet and its quiet pools 
under the trees down below Uncle Miles' old tannery. Such sjaorts and 
occupations in boyhood days are remembered with gladness — are never 
forgotten. 

The names and the features of many of the worthy and honored 
men living in Plymouth in the old days are well remembered. My be- 
lief was, and the conviction remains with me yet, that nowhere could 
have lived any more deserving of esteem and honor than such men as 
Eli Terry, ApoUos Warner, Edwin Talmadge, Squire Butler, Stephen 
Mitchell, Edward Langdon, Dr. Woodruff, also the son of "Di\ Bill," 
Mr. Coole}', Lucius Bradley, Captain Isaac Bull, wSquire Blakeslee, Seth 
Thomas, Silas Hoadley, Eli Terry, Jr., Silas B. Terry, and many 
others — prominent, infiuential and enterprising citizens. Some of the 
boys and girls of the old days are also remembered with pleasure. I 



CENTENNIAL CELEBHATION. 311 

will mention only a few of them: Egbert Butler and Malcomb, John 
Calhoun, Edward Warner and Sarah, Catherine Talmadge, George 
Langdon, David Warner, Edwin Johnson, Lyman, Norman, Walter and 
Sam Smith. 

I cannot forget Mr. Isham, the teacher at the Academy in 1836. 
He was a gentle, gentlemanly, lovable man. The old Academy itself, 
at some time during the intervening years, seems to have become rest- 
less and perhaps ambitious for a "western career," possibl}' catching 
the spirit of the old saying, ' ' Westward the star of e:npire takes its 
way," for when I last looked upon its venerated walls it had abandoned 
its old location and started towards the setting sun. Quickly, no doubt, 
upon "second sober thought," an honest home-sick feeling gained the 
mastery, the wandering desire was quelled, and the conclusion, "Plym- 
outh is good enough for me," "There is no place like the old hoine," 
prevailed. Excuse the rambling, incoherent makeup of this epistle. 
In closing, I will express a hope that Plymouth will have another hun- 
dred years of peace, prosperity and all needed blessings. 

\'ery truly yours, 

S. B. Jkromk. 

[Mr. Jerome was a son of Chauncey Jerome, born in the house now 
occupied by Albert Gaylord.] 



Alle(;an, Micil, April 30, 1S95. 
J. C. Fexn, Secretary of Centennial Committee, PlYiMouth, Conn. 

We have the pleasure of being honored with an invitation to be 
present at the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the dear old 
town of my nativity, and in connection with that event thoughts ()f the 
past (so many of them) come to my mind. Many pleasant recollections; 
some of which are sad and cast a shadow over the picture which is 
spread out before me — a map as it were of the changes which seventy 
years of my recollections cover. Would that I might present it before 
your eyes as it is photographed in mine as you gather for your centen- 
nial celebration. I suppose a great multitude of pe<jple will gather on 
that occasion. Could I be present with you and look into the faces of 
that multitude of people, I should be constrained to say, " One genera- 
tion passeth away and another conieth." 

The old fathers have gone to their reward, and to us, their children, 
their memory is blessed. We commence where they left oft", with their 
lives and examples before us. God has led this generation out into 
large fields and bestowed upon us wisdom and knowledge, and placed 
tis environments such as the world has never known before, and so 
ladened us with responsibilities, and inspired us to recognize those re- 
sponsibilities, and to put forth our willing hands to the work before us. 
Let us consider the possibilities which may be achieved by us, for soon 
another generation will take up the work where we leave it and they will 
say of us — the fathers, where are they ? 

Regrets that we cannot be with you on that occasion might be in 
order, were it not for the fact that the Wise Disposer of Events seems 
to interpose and thinks it not best. Our oft infirmities admonish us that 
our veiy pleasant home which has been provided is the best place for us 
at our advanced time in life, and so, however much we may desire to 
mingle with you on that eventful occasion, the admonition comes to us 
that in order to prolong our days we must be good to ourselves and for- 
bear from engaging in those fatiguing and exciting incidents which in 
earlier days were pleasant and restful. 

Hoping you may all enjoy even more of pleasure than you antici- 
pate, and that the effort which has been attended with much labor in 
the preparation may be eminently successful, we are 

Truly vours, 

" Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Fenn. 



212 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

CkDARCREST, GaRRIS()N-ON-HL'DSON. 

Mr. Jason C. Fknn, Secretary; 

Dear Sir — Mrs. Toucey and I anticipated much pleasure in attend- 
ing' the Plymouth centennial celebration. Mrs. Toucey' s love for her 
old home does not abate as the years roll by. As for myself, having 
earh' in life captured and carried off one of her fairest and best for iny 
companion in life, is it a wonder that there is a warm spot in my heart 
for the dear "old town" nestled in among the hills of Litchfield county? 

It would give us great pleasure to join in your festivities, but a 
recent injury to ]Mrs. Toucey compels us at this late day to send regrets, 
but wishing you all a happy and joyous time, one of Connecticut's "old 
time celebrations," I am Yours truly, 

Garri.son, Putnam Co., X. Y., ]\[ay 12, 1S95. John M. Toucey. 



Rochester, N. Y., May ii, 1895. 
Georije Lanc;don, Esq., and Gentlemen oe the Plymouth Centennla.l 
Committee: 
I received yoitr kind invitation to attend the celebration of ]\Iay 14 
and 15, and had confidently expected to be present, until to-day I find that 
it now seems impossible to leave home. Several of the former residents 
of Plymouth have called on me or corresponded with reference to the 
anticipated meeting, among whom are David S. ]\Iather, of Buffalo, 
George Plumb, of Fairport, N. Y. , my brother, \Vallace Darrow, of 
Yorktown, X. Y. All are ready in any way to contribute toward the 
objects of the "Centennial." 

We cherish X'^ew England and its institutions and influences, where 
our fathers sleep, with filial love. During the fifty years of residence 
in Rochester we have frequently visited the old home. 

Yours Respectfully, 

Erastus Darrow. 



Harbine, X^'eb., May S, 1S95. 
Mr. Geo. Laxgdon, Chairman ok Committee: 

My Dear Sir — It would be an intense satisfaction to me to be present 
in dear old Phmiouth next week. But Coxies army got the start of me. 
So I can only for\vard my regrets, together with the earnest hope that 
you may have a royal gathering (for in this country we all belong to the 
royal family), and that you will all be taxed to the utmost to find room 
for the gray-headed girls and bo^'S who are permitted to do homage at 
that shrine of early associations. Bristol was my birthplace, and it has 
always had tender associations on account of kindred who lived or died 
there, and others who still live. But my boyhood and youth belong to 
Plymouth, I played ball on that green in summer. And what glorious 
coasting we had in winter 1 Then, incidentally (?) we put in some time 
trying to get a start up the ascent to the "Temple of Fame," under the 
tutilage of ]\Iiss ^Maria Smith. She used to tell us that she had eyes in 
the back of her head. Then, for a time, I attended Miss McXeill's 
select school in basement of the Episcopal Church. She was, for me, 
an inspiring teacher. Then at the old Academy, when it stood on the 
east side of the green. Several impressions remain. First, Judge 
Bissell, of Torrington, once with a few strokes of the pen, made and 
gave to me, as a reward of merit (I had the most head marks in spelling), 
the picture of a goose, which I long cherished among my treasures. 
Second, I recall the little boxes, with slide lids, which ambitious students 
used slyly to cut in the desks, and also the facility which some acquired 
in catching flies to put into them. Then there was that copy which 
Wallace Fenn once set in my copy book, "England thinks she can con- 
quer America." I said, ''S/w ca)i t do if.'" And I sfiH think so. Then 
the new school house was built, and what times we had in our competi- 
tive study. The "parsing" class was the center of interest. One little 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 213 

incident — perhaps Dwight Terry will recall it, for he will surely be with 
3'ou. He sat in the front single desk on the west side, near the chimney. 
One morning we were reading in the testament. He was wrestling with 
the word "jeopardy" ("Why stand ye in jeopardy every hour"). It 
was too big for him — j-e-(ge)-o-(geo)-p-a-r-(geopar)-d-y — when a square 
foot of plastering, loosened by the rain, fell upon his head. 

I am reminded of a song which often comes to mind, "Twenty 
Years Ago." Only these things occurred near the middle of the century 
whose close you celebrate. How I would like to know the history of 
each of those, my companions. In Plymouth I studied Latin under Dr. 
Warren ; thence I went to Williston Seminary ; thence to Yale. In the 
dear old church in Plymouth I was ordained to go as chaplain to the 
army. In that old church I began the Christian life. And during the 
half century almost, I have tried to serve faithfully my day and genera- 
tion. I am aware that I do not rank among those who have become dis- 
tinguished. But I have not dishonored the home of my boyhood, nor 
its neighbor, the town of my birth. I should like to see a list of those 
present, and to know their present residences, occupations, family con- 
nections, etc. I have a good wife, who would be an honor to even a 
Plymouth circle. Also two manly sons, of whom we are not ashamed. 

As the 3'ears pass, and new forms and strange faces supplant the 
old, may they be full of a noble ambition to maintain and develop to a 
still higher degree the principles of Christian patriotism and true 
nobility. 

"The hills of New England, how proudly they rise. 
In their wildness of grandeur, to blend with the skies ; 
With their far azure outlines and tall ancient trees, 
New England, my country, I love thee for these." 

Yours in tender memories, 

John B. Doolittle. 



Mapi.p:wild, Waterburv, Conn.: 
My dear Mr. Smith. — Yevy much do I regret my inability to attend 
the centennial celebration at Plymouth and Terryvil'le to which you have 
kindly invited me. A wedding on the fifteenth, in which I am inter- 
ested, will prevent my acceptance. Had the date been other than it is 
Miss Hayden and I would have endeavored to attend. 

Yours truly. 
May 8, 1895. Anna'L. Ward. 



Mrs. Fannie West Pogue regrets that she is unable to attend the 
centennial celebration of the incorporation of Plymouth, Connecticut, at 
Plymouth Center and at Terryville, May 14 and 15. 

Avondale, Cincinnati, May 6, 1S95. 



J. C. Fenn, Sec'y Centennial Committee. 

Mrs. C. B. Gunn regrets that her health will not permit of her ac- 
cepting the invitation to be present at the centennial celebration of the 
town of Plymouth on May 14 and 15. Terryville was for many, many 
years a pleasant home and only tender memories remain of the town 
and its people. May it be a joyous celebration and reunion for all that 
are present. 

HoPKiNTON, Mass., May iS, 1895. 



214 history of plymouth. 

Sec'y Centennial Committee, Plymouth, Conn. 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Holman regret their not being able to ac- 
cept the invitation to the centennial celebration of the town of Ply- 
mouth on May 14 and 15. 

Mrs. Holman has very affecti(.)nate remembrances of Terryville as 
her girlhood's home, and later as teacher in the schools. To the sons 
and daughters present may the day be full of pleasant greetings and 
renewed friendships. 

HoPKiNTON, Mass., May 13, 1S95. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



Founders of the Clock and Lock Industries 



IN America. 



interesting details of their lives. 



Careers of Other People Who Made Plymouth 



Their Home. 




Eli Terrv. 



CHAPTER X. 



CLOCK MAKERS. 



Plymouth Made Famous by the Invention of Eli Terry, who was the Founder of 
the Clock Business of America— Other Prominent Makers, such as Seth 
Thomas, Silas Hoadley, Samuel Camp, and Chauncey Jerome, were all Natives 
of this Town. 

ELI TERRY was born in South Windsor, Conn., April 13, 
1772. His ancestor, Samuel Terry, came to ancient Spring- 
field, Mass., A. D. 1654. Samuel of the fourth generation after 
was born in the year 1750. He married Huldah Burnham. Their 
children were Eli, vSamuel, Silas, Huldah, Lucy, Ann, Naoma, 
Horace, Clarissa and Joseph. Eli went to Northbury, then a 
part of Watertown, in 1793, to manufacture clocks. He was 
said to be an earnest, thoughtful young man and exceedingly 
temperate both in eating and drinking. Soon after he married 
Eunice Warner of that town. She was the daughter of James 
Warner and the granddaughter of John Warner and David 
Button. Their children were Anna, born December 32, 17S6, 
Eli, born June 25, 1799, Henry, James, Silas Burnham, Sarah 
Warner, Huldah, George and Lucinda. Mrs. Terry died 
December 15, 1S39. I" November, 1840, he married widow 
Harriet Peck. Their children were Stephen, born in 1S41, and 
Edwin, born in 1S43. He first located in the southern part of 
the town. A few years after he sold out his business to Silas 
Hoadley and Seth Thomas and the place took the name of 
Hoadleyville. He then built a house with a shop in the rear on 
Plymouth Hill near the center. He built the two houses in 
Terryville just west of the church in 1838 and 1839, and moved 
into the one nearest the church where he remained until his 
death. 

Mr. Terry learned the art of clock and watch making and 
the art of engraving on metal of Daniel Burnap, in the city of 
Hartford ; he also received instruction from Thomas Harland, a 
noted clock and watch maker, a resident of Norwich, and a 
native of London. When he settled in Plymouth, he engaged 
in the business of repairing clocks and watches, engraving on 
metal, and selling spectacles, spectacles being the only goods he 
kept for sale. In his early residence here he did nothing at 
clock making worthy of mention, but in the year 1807 he 



230 HISTORV OF PLYMOUTH. 

obtained a contract from a clock maker in the neighboring town 
of Waterbiiry for making four thousand thirty-hour wood clocks 
with seconds pendulum, the dial and hands included, at four 
dollars ($4) apiece. At this date the manufacturers of clocks in 
this country made the eight-day English brass clocks and thirty- 
hour wood clocks, both kinds of clocks having pendulums beat- 
ing seconds, or seconds pendulums, as they were called, with 
three exceptions. In that part of Plymouth, now Thomaston, 
there was a manufacturer of brass clocks, and also a manu- 
facturer of brass clocks at Salem Bridge, now Naugatuck. 
These clocks were the English brass clocks with sixty teeth in 
the escapement wheel instead of thirtv, to adapt them to a half 
seconds pendulum, the cord passing upward and over a pulley 
on the inside of the top of the case and attached to the weight, 
the weight moving the whole length of the inside of the case. 
These were the substantial differences. The plates for the 
frames of these clocks and the blanks for the wheels and other 
parts were cast metal, and the pinions were of cast steel, the 
same as in the English clocks. The length of cases required for 
half seconds clocks bears about the same ratio to the length of 
the cases for clocks with seconds pendulums that the length of 
the pendulums bear to each other. These clocks were popularly 
called "shelf clocks," and were thus distinguished from clocks 
with seconds pendulums, the cases of which stood on the floor. 
At Roxbury, near Boston, a timepiece was made called Willard's 
timepiece. This timepiece consisted of the time train of the 
English brass clock, with the omission of one leaf in the pinion 
on the escapement wheel arbor, the escapement wheel having an 
additional number of teeth, and was thus adapted to a pendulum 
shorter than the seconds and longer than the half seconds pendu- 
lums. This brass timepiece and the half seconds brass clock 
before mentioned were excellent timepieces. Such was the 
state of the clock makers' art in our country so far as relates to 
clocks for general use in the year 1S07. To complete the con- 
tract mentioned, Mr. Terry was allowed three years. During 
the time he conceived the idea of making a thirty-hour wood 
clock with half seconds pendulum for general use, wdiich would 
be much less expensive than the half seconds clock of cast brass. 
His flrst ertbrt in this direction was unsatisfactory, the clock was 
substantially the movement of the thirty-hour wood clock with a 
seconds pendulum, the escapement wheel having sixty teeth 
instead of thirty to adapt it to a short half seconds pendulum. 
The cord passed upward and over a pulley on the inside of the 
top of the case and down around a pulley attached to the weight 
and back to the top of the case, where it was fastened. The 
front plate of the frame was an open plate, and the clock had no 
dial, but the figures to indicate the time were painted on the 
glass in the sash of the case. This clock did not suit Mr. Terry's 
aspirations, though he made and sold several hundred of them, 
and other manufacturers made and sold more than he did. 

In the year 1S14, he perfected a thirty-hour wood clock, of a 
construction entirely new, both the time and striking trains hav- 



CLOCK MAKEKS. 221 

ing a greater number of wheels, and the clock being so radically 
ditl'erent that it was really a new manufacture. Aside from the 
ingenuity as shown in the general construction of this clock, 
there were two notable inventions : the one consisted in arranging 
the dial works between the plates of the Irame, instead of 
between the front plate and the dial, and the other consisted in 
mounting the verge on a steel pin inserted in one end of a short 
arm, a screw passing through the other end and into the front 
plate. In wood clocks the pin was inserted in a button midway 
between the center and the periphery. By turning the button or 
arm, the verge was adjusted to the escapement wheel. In the 
manufacture of this newly constructed thirt}-hour wood clock 
the numerous manufacturers of clocks at once engaged, and it 
became a very extensive industry, Mr. Terry making a very 
small fraction of the number made and sold. It superseded the 
half second clock made of cast brass, and tJiat industry perished. 
This clock supplied the American market and export demand 
for clocks lor a quarter of a century. 

In the progress of the arts in our country, sheet metal began 
to be manufactured, and rolled brass became an article of com- 
merce. With a supply of this article in the market, sheet metal 
clocks began to be made. These sheet metal clocks with wire 
pinions were much less expensive than wood clocks, and super- 
seded the manufacture of wood clocks as the manufacture of 
wood clocks had superseded the manufacture of clocks of cast 
brass. The two inventions before mentioned were adapted to 
brass clocks, as well as to wood clocks and to sheet metal clocks, 
as well as to clocks made of cast metal, and one or both are 
found in nearly every clock made in our country, and also in 
clocks made in other countries. It is worthy of mention at this 
point that all of the several kinds of clocks before mentioned 
were made to gauges, or so that the parts were interchangeable. 
The making of parts of a machine so that one part may be 
changed for a like part in another machine was an American in- 
vention. To whom the credit of the invention belongs the writer 
regrets he is unable to state, but it was practiced in the clock 
makers' art as early as the year 1S07. But Mr, Terry did not 
confine himself to making low-priced clocks for general use. 
He made brass clocks of fine quality, and sold them to watch 
makers for regulators, the price ranging from one to two hundred 
dollars, and also tower clocks. His tower clocks were novel, 
and consisted of three parts, a time part, a part to move the 
hands, and the striking part. By this construction the time part 
was not affected by the action of the wind and weather on the 
hands; the time part could also be placed in any part of the 
building desired, with a dial and handle attached and connected 
to the parts in the tower bv a wire. 

The tower clock which he made for the city of New Haven 
deserves special notice. The city at this time (1S26) had no 
building suitable for a tower clock, and the clock was placed in 
Center Church on the "Green." This clock had the usual dial 
work, the hands connected with it showing mean time on a dial. 



HISTORY OF PLYISIOUTH. 





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Copy of Patent Granted Eli Terry. 

Being the first Patent issued on Timepieces in tliis c<iuntr\', and one of the 

earliest issued by the United States, in possession of his grandson, 

James Terry. It is on parchment and has the original 

signatures of the President, Secretary of 

State and Attornev-General. 



CLOCK MAKERS. 223 

and an extra train or dial works whereby the hands connected 
with it showed apparent time on an extra dial. This clock 
showing both mean and apparent time was not liked by the 
citizens, who were accustomed to apparent time, which was 
everywhere kept except in two or three of our principal cities, 
sun-dials being common and every house having its own mark. 
The extra dial work, dial and hands for showing apparent time 
were removed, and the man in charge was instructed by 
Mr. Terry to set the clock to mean time, for he was determined 
that the clock should show mean time, and he still owned it and 
could do as he pleased, the city not having accepted it, In a 
tower on one of the buildings of Yale College there was a public 
clock " with an apparatus attached to it, which produced a daily 
variation from true time equal to the variation of the sun," caus- 
ing the clock to show apparent time. These two public clocks 
not a block apart, one showing apparent time and the other 
mean time, occasioned a spirited controversy in the public press 
as to what was true time, or the proper time to be kept, in which 
there was a mixture of ridicule and learning. Those curious to 
read the controversy are referred to the files of the city papers 
of that day, to be found in the library of the institution mentioned. 
The communication signed " A Citizen of the United States" 
was written by Mr. Terry, and shows that he was master of the 
whole subject. At this day it seems strange that there should 
have been such a controversy, that learned men and others 
should have advocated the keeping of apparent time, and that in 
the year 1811, on a signal from the observatory of the College, 
a heavy gun on the public square was fired at noon to give the 
people the exact time to make their noon marks. Many resi- 
dents of the city and graduates of the College in all parts of our 
country well remember these two old public clocks, which for 
many years chimed out their discordant notes. Some confusion 
has arisen from the failure of writers on the art to distinguish 
between clocks of cast brass and sheet metal clocks. The mak- 
ing of clocks of cast brass, the making of sheet metal clocks, and 
the making of wood clocks, so far as the mechanical part is con- 
cerned, are three distinct arts — are three distinct industries. 
Eli Terry died in Plymouth, in the post village of Terryville, 
called alter his oldest son, Eli Terry, Jr., February 24, 18^2, 
falling short of the age of three score and ten, one month and 
eighteen days. 

ELI TERRY, JR. 

Eli Terry, Jr., was born in Plymouth, June 25, 1799. At an 
early age he commenced clock making with his father and after- 
ward said he owed his success in life to him. He married 
Samantha McKee, of Bristol, September 6, 1821. Their chil- 
dren were James, born Julv 5, 1823 ; Andrew, born December 
19, 1824 ; Eunice, born October 28, 1827 ; Willis, born August 22. 
1S30; Willard, born March 22, 1832; Fallah, born November 
5, 1833; Lucinda, born October 28, 1836; Eli, born September 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Profile Portrait of Eli Terry. 



tl>- "'Vj:>«#. 



^ , \ 



Profile Portrait of Mrs. Eli Terry. 



CLOCK MAKERS. 235 

8, 1840. They commenced housekeeping just below Plymouth 
Hollow (now Thomaston) where James and Andrew were born. 
In 1835 they moved to Terryville where Mr. Terry had com- 
menced building a house, also two shops for the manulacture of 
clocks. This place was selected because of the water privilege. 
The house is a little above and opposite what is called the upper 
shop in Terryville, and the shops occupied the same ground of 
the above named shop. The house he occupied while building 
stood near and was afterwards bought by Elizur Fenn, moved to 
the hill west, re-fitted and is still occupied by him. There is but 
one other house standing now in the village that was in existence 
when he went there, viz., the Andrew Fenn place. 

The clock business was a success from the first, the market 
being mostly in the south, Mr. Terry sometimes going himself 
as far as southern Pennsylvania and Kentucky to sell them. 
This was before the day of railroads and Mrs. Merrill Richardson, 
his daughter, remembers seeing at one time several (she says 
eight or ten, but perhaps her childish eyes magnified the 
number) large two-horse covered wagons, standing in a row 
opposite the house, which were filled with clocks to be sent 
south. Twice she remembers men coming with slaves to buy 
clocks. 

He was founder of the village of Terryville, and built many 
of its houses in its early days, and it was named for him. He 
was an active member of the church on Plymouth Hill till 1838, 
when the church was organized in Terryville. In this he was 
very much interested, and for its welfare had great anxiety. 
He assisted in building the church by generous contributions, and 
was very liberal in its support. He was a thorough business 
man and left a handsome property- to his children. He died in 
1841, at the age of forty-two years. 

At the time when Mr. Terry founded his village, it was 
only a farming community, and he was under the necessity of 
providing houses for himself and his employes. He took great 
interest in the society he gathered around him and was a man of 
large influence for good. The methods of business were very 
different from those of the present day. It will be remembered 
that there were no railroads to the market, and goods were 
carted to rhe nearest water conveyances and thence shipped to 
the cities or distributed by peddlers to all parts of the country. 
Money was scarce, and a cash trade was the exception. Many 
clocks were exchanged for goods of every kind — everything that 
was needed in such a community — hence the necessity that the 
manufacturers keep a store of these goods for distribution. 
Sometimes, if shrewd, he made two profits, but perhaps quite as 
often the skillful manufacturer failed to be qualified for a mer- 
chant, and made a loss instead of a profit. The peddlers sold at 
high prices to parties who would buy and give their notes in 
payment, and these notes often proved worthless. The system 
of barter too, extended to the pay of the workingmen, and at the 
settlement at the end of the year for which each one was hired,, 
he received a note for balance due. 



226 



]iIS'l"ORV OF PLYMOUTH. 




Home (if Eli Terrv, Jr. 









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tli 'lerr\, ;J. 



CLOCK MAKERS. 227 

There were serious drawbacks to business of every kind at 
that time. On the other hand, there were some favorable cir- 
cumstances for Mr. Terry. The demand for clocks was larger, 
only limited by the means of the people who wanted them. 
They were almost an article of necessity, but the extreme high 
price at which they had necessarily been held in the market, 
forbade their use to those whose means were moderate, but by 
the introduction of machinery in place of hand labor, and 
especially by the invention of the shelf clock, which had been 
introduced by the elder Terry, in 1814, they were placed within 
the reach of a large class of people of more moderate means. 
Moreover, by this same reduction in cost, the manufacture was 
placed beyond the reach of competition, while protected by letters 
patent, it was too early to be atiected bv competitors at home. 

The clock business was sold to Hiram Welton & Co., who 
continued it to 1845, when upon the Hiilure of the company, 
caused in part by the failure of a party for whom they had 
underwritten, the business was closed out. 

The factory, however, did not remain idle long for it was 
immediately utilized for the manufacture of locks. The build- 
ing, though abandoned for manufiicturing purposes, is still 
standing, and has the old fashioned water wheel in it that was 
built b}' Mr. Terry to supersede hand power. 

HENRY TERRY. 

Henry Terry was the second son of Eli Terry, born in Ply- 
mouth, November 12, iSoi. October 16, 1823, he married 
Emily Blakeslee, daughter of Ransom Blakeslee, of the same 
town, by whom he had eight children, three of whom died in 
infancy. A daughter, Julia, was married in 1856, to Rev. 
Charles Harding, with whom she went to Sholapoor, India, as 
a missionary, and died there, leaving three daughters, two of 
whom, Julia Harding and Airs. Emily Mabon are living in New 
York City, and one, Mrs. Ruby E. Fairbank, is a missionarv in 
India, near where her mother is buried. She has three children. 

Mr. Terrv's living children are Mrs. Adeline Terry Bartlett, 
of Ansonia, Conn., who had two sons, both of whom are dead; 
Mrs. Anna Scoville Wilson, of Independence, Iowa, who has 
two daughters and one granddaughter; Henry K. Terrv, born 
in 1S39; married in 1859 to Kate Hoyt (who died in 1S69), by 
whom he had three children, two daughters now living, Gertrude 
and Nelly. Gertrude married Albert W. Arnold and has four 
children. His present wife was Florentine B. Arnold (married 
in 1873), and they have three children, Henrv K. Terry, Jr., 
born October 25, 1874, and two daughters, Pearl and Leslie. 
Henry K. Terry, Sr., is vice-president and general manager of 
The Powhatan Clay Mfg. Co., of Richmond, Va. 

The voungest child of Mr. Terrv is Dwight H. Terry, 
born in 1841, who married Martha J. Durand in 1S62, and is a 
broker and dealer in investment securities at Bridgeport, Conn. 

Henry Terry, the subject of this sketch, died at Waterbury, 



328 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Henrv Terrv. 




Henry K. Terr\-. 



CLOCK MAKERS. 



229 



Conn., January 7, 1S77, and The Waterbury American in an 
obituary notice, after stating tVom whom he descended and 
giving other facts which are included above, said substantiallv 
as follows : 

" He had resided in Waterbury but a few years ; but he was 
so well known throughout this region, and occupied so promi- 
nent a position in his earlier life in a neighboring town, that his 
decease calls for more than a passing notice." It continues; 
" From his boyhood, Mr Terry was familiar with clock making, 
acquiring his knowledge of the business under the tuition of his 
lather. He would probably have devoted his life to it, as other 
members of the family have done, were it not for the rapid 
increase which took place about forty years ago in the number 
of manufacturers, the consequent competition, the great reduc- 
tion in the price of clocks, and the interminable credit it was 
then customary to give." In a review of Dr. Alcott's History of 
Clock Making, contributed to the columns of The American^ 
June 10, 1S53, Mr. Terry, referring to this epoch, says: 

"The writer was one of this number, who had until then 
very little acquaintance with any other business, having been a 
witness to all the improvements in clocks and the machiner}- for 
making the same, from the time the shelf-clock was first intro- 
duced, in the year 1S14, to the period in question, or the year 
1S36." 

At about the time last mentioned, Mr. Terry abandoned 
clock making, and began the manufacture of woolen cloths, just 
below the village of Thomaston. This business he continued 
with considerable success up to and through the period of our 
civil war. About the close of the war, in 1S64, he made the 
mistake of holding on to a large stock of goods for better prices, 
which declined steadily, and when the goods were finally sold, 
the loss absorbed all previous gains. After closing up his busi- 
ness in Thomaston, about the year 1S6S, he removed to Water- 
bury. 

One of the pleasant incidents of his life in Waterbury was 
the celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Terry's golden wedding, on 
the evening of October 16, 1873. At that time, it was stated that 
of a hundred and fifty friends who were present at their 
marriage, only a score remained, and that of all the married 
couples present then, there remained but one unbroken by death. 

Mr. Terry's remains were taken to Plymouth for interment. 
Rev. Joseph Anderson, in a brief analysis of the character of the 
deceased, spoke of him as a man in whom mind predominated 
over feeling ; as possessing an intellect strong, sharp, and 
matter-of-fact ; as an unskillful speaker, but a fluent and pointed 
writer ; as fond of historical and scientific research ; as faithful 
to his convictions, but independent and liberal, and uncommonly 
frank in expressing his own views ; never in bondage to tradi- 
tional beliefs, never hesitating to run athwart the sentiments and 
opinions of others, whether in a political discussion or in a 
prayer meeting. He had a genuine hatred of pretence and mere 
sentiment, and a desire that the truth should be proclaimed. 



2X0 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Henr\- K Terrv. Jr 




Dui-lit H. Terr\ 



CLOCK MAKERS. 33I 

He possessed wide knowledge— the result of minute research in 
various fields ; but in two departments he might almost be con- 
sidered an authority — the hist >ry of clock making, the industry 
to which he had devoted so large a part of his life, and the doc- 
trines and practices of Congregationalism. There was no man 
in Waterbury, there were few in Connecticut, who knew more 
of the Coneresrational faith and order than he. 



SILAS BLIRNHAM TERRY. 

Silas Burnham Terry was born in Fh mouth, February i, 1S07. 
He was married in the year 1832, to Maria Upson, of VVolcott. 
She died in the year 1863, leaving five children, namely: Caro- 
line, who married E S. Beach; Silas B., Solon M., Cornelius 
E. and Simeon G. In the \ear 1S66 he was married to Lydia 
Ann Wiard, widow of the late Norman Smith of Plymouth. 
In 1S31 he erected a shop for the manufacture of clocks at the 
confluence of the Pequabuck and Poland rivers in Terryville, 
which is still standing. 

He was less a managing man than his brother, but a man of 
unusual and varied intelligence, a superior mechanic, ingenious, 
and surpassed by no one in his knowledge of the mechanism of 
a clock. His brother Henry says of him, in an obituar}- notice 
published by the Waterbury American of May 30, 1S76: 

"After prosecuting the business many years, and making, 
for the most part, costlv clocks, struggling through the financial 
troubles of 1837 and 1S39, when most men not firmly established 
in business and capital were broken down, he, too, became a 
surterer, vet struggled on imtil he found no way of emancipation 
from the burden of debt fiistened upon him, but to relinquish a 
business not only not remunerative, but to him disastrous. He 
had, however, during these vears of business adversity, intro- 
duced new machinerv, from which others derived more benefit 
than himself, and had introduced newly arranged clocks, which 
have since proved the best in the market. The clock known as 
the Seth Thomas regulator. No. i and 2, is one. It is a perfect 
timekeeper, and is as reliable, even for astronomical purposes, as 
the more showy clocks, costing ten times as much. The same 
clock is also made at Winsted, and by the Waterbury Clock 
Company. He also made a new gravity escapement regulator, 
of which we propose to speak farther on." After speaking of the 
three-legged gravitv escapement invented by E. B. Dennison, 
LL. D., and described in a treatise written by him, he claims 
that, though different in several respects, the one invented by his 
brother antedates the former, and says : 

•'This regulator, when put in its present locality, was kept 
running four years steadilv, during which time its rate of rim- 
ning was very perfect, requiring the use of observatory instru- 
ments to ascertain the variation at the end of four years. The 
perfecting of this gravitv escapement we therefore claim as an 
American invention. It has been running five vears longer than 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Silas Hoadley. 




Samuel Camp, 



CLOCK MAKERS. 233 

the Westminster clock, described in the treatise referred to, and 
may be seen at the late residence of the deceased in this city. 

"About 1S52 he invented the torsion balance clock, so 
called. It was designed for a cheap clock. The movement was 
carried by a spring, as in other marine clocks, but the balance 
was a flattened wire stretched from top to bottom of the clock, 
to which was attached a horizontal rod or wire with a small ball 
at each end, wdiich by their vibrations served to regulate the 
motion of the clock and" took the place of the hair spring. A joint 
stock company was formed for the manufacture of this clock, 
and a new factory was built a short distance below the depot, 
utilizing the dam"^built by Eli Terry, Sr., in the later years of his 
life, after he had retired from business. The directors of this 
company were James Terry, William E. McKee, Theodore 
Terry and S. B. Terry. The former was president and financial 
manager, and the latter superintendent. The clock did not 
prove a success; as a consequence the company relinquished the 
business." 

Mr. Terry, however, always insisted that the difficulties 
were not insuperable, and in the later years of his life, when 
doing business for himself, contemplated taking it up again and 
perfecting it. Many will remember the clock, and the beauty 
and delicacy of its movement. 

Mr. Terry was afterwards in the employ of William L. Gil 
bert, at Winsted, and of the Waterbury Clock Company, and 
then, with his sons, organized the Terry Clock Company, in 
which he was engaged until near the time of his death, in ^lay, 
1876. 

ELI TERRV, 3d. 1 

Eli Terrv (3d), the youngest son of Eli Terry (2d) was born 
in Plymouth in 1S41, and is now a resident of Minneapolis, 
Minn. About the year 1S63 he commenced the manufacture of 
clock springs in the shop built by Silas B. Terry at the con- 
fluence of the Pequabuck and Poland rivers. Mr. Terry put in 
practice a new way of tempering, hardening and coiling the 
springs, and the business was reasonably successful, but an 
advantageous ot^er being made by the Seth Thomas Clock Com- 
pany, it was taken up and the manufacture went to Thomaston. 
The shop was later used by the Investors' Manufacturing Com- 
pany of Boston for the manufacture of shears, but the venture 
did not prove a success. 

Since Mr. Terrv adopted his process, another of hardening 
and tempering the springs under tension, and polishing and 
bluing before coiling, has been introduced and is in general use. 

SAMUEL CAMP. 

Samuel Camp was a captain in the revolutionary war, was 
well acquainted with General Washington and the Alarquis de 
Lafayette, and rendered efficient services in the cause of his 
country at Crown Point, Ticonderoga and Staten Island. Four 



234 



HISTORY OF PI.^•MOUTH. 




Hiram Camp. 




Seth Thomas 



CLOCK MAKERS. 



235 



of Samuel Camp's brothers, John, Benajah, Job and Ephraim, 
also served in the patriot armies. John Camp became a Con- 
gregational minister. Samuel Camp, after the war, settled in 
Plymouth and was a deacon in the Congregational Church there. 
He died at the age of eighty. 

The homestead now passed into the hands of Samuel 
Camp, Jr. He married jeannette Jerome, sister of Chauncey 
Jeromt , and remained on the farm in Plymouth until 1S29, when 
he moved to Plainville, Conn., where he spent a long life of 
usefulness. He was a great student of the Bible and had com- 
mitted not less than half its contents to memory. He died in 
Plainville in 1S76 in his ninetieth year. 

Hiram Camp, the son ot Samuel Camp, Jr., and Jeannette 
Jerome, was Iidtu in l^Umouth, xA.pril 9, iSii. Having a taste 
for mechanical puisuits, rather than the monotonous life on a 
farm he left liome when eighteen years of age, and went to 
Bristol to work at clock manufacturing with his uncle, Chauncey 
Jerome. At that time (1S29) the clock business was in its 









The Seth Thomas Clock Works. 



infancy. Since then great improvements have been made, to 
which Mr. Camp largely contributed, having proved himself an 
inventor as well as manufiicturer. In 1S45 Mr. Camp removed 
to New Haven, where he still pursued the clock business, being 
president of the Clock Company for about forty years. 

His time and thoughts were not all devoted in the one line, 
he having held several pulilic otfices, such as a member of com- 
mon council, selectman of town, chief engineer of fire depart- 
partment, and a member of state legislature. The last dozen 
years or more of his life he was greatly interested in Mt. Hermon's 
School for Boys at Northfield. He was an active member of the 
Church of the Redeemer, and one of its oldest deacons. He died in 
New Haven July 8, 1893, aged eighty-two years. He was the 
last of the old manufacturers that went from Plymouth to estab- 
lish large clock shops in other places. 



236 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

SETH THOMAS. 

Seth Thomas was the son of James and Martha Thomas, 
and was born in Wolcott, Conn., August 19, 17S5. His advan- 
tages of education were very meager, consisting of a short at- 
tendance upon a distant public school. He served an appren- 
ticeship to the trade of carpenter and joiner, and spent some 
time on the construction of Long Wharf in New Haven. Leav- 
ing at his majority with a small kit of tools and a very small sum 
of money, he associated with Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley under 
the hrm name of Terry, Thomas & Hoadley, in the southeastern 
part of the town of Plymouth, now known as Hancock vStation 
on the New England railroad, and commenced the manufacture 
of clocks. 

In iSio Mr. Terry sold his interest, and the firm continued 
two vears as Thomas & Hoadley. He then sold his interest to 
Mr. Hoadley and came to the western part of the town, then 
known as Plymouth Hollow, and purchased the site where the 
case shop is now located, and began the manufacture of clocks 
on his own account. 

He was twice married, first to Philena Tuttle, April 20, 
iSoS. She died ]SLarch 12, 1810. He was married second to 
Laura Andrews, daughter of William and Submit Andrews, 
April 14, iSii,who survived him. vShe died July 12, 1S71. 
He was the father of nine children, three of whom, and all then 
living, died in September, 1S15, in the year memorable as the 
one of the dysentery scourge. 

The clock business from small beginnings increased rapidly, 
and he afterwards built a cotton mill and a brass rolling and wire 
mill. Politicallv he was a Whig. He was a member of the 
Congregational Church, and contributed largely to the building 
of the Congregational Church in Plymouth Hollow 

In 18^3, feeling the infirmities of vears coming upon him, 
in order to avoid the stoppage of his works consequent upon his 
death, he organized the Seth Thomas Clock Company under the 
joint stock laws of Connecticut. He died January 29, 1S59. 
After his death, by act of the Legislature, the town of Plymouth 
was divided, and the western portion was made into a new town 
and named Thomaston in his honor. 

Six of his children who survived him were: Seth, Jr., 
Martha, who married Dr. William Woodrufl'; Ainanda, who 
married Thomas J. Bradstreet ; Edward, Elizabeth, who mar- 
ried George W. Gilbert, and Aaron. At this time, January, 
189^, the only ones living are Elizabeth and Aaron. 

SILAS HOADLEY. 

Hon. Silas Hoadley was born January 31, 1786, in Beth- 
any, Conn., died December 28, 1870, in Plymouth. He was 
married to Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Lucina Painter, born 
October 22, 1789, in Plymouth, who died March i, 1864. Mr. 
Hoadley spent his liovhood in his native place. His school ad- 
vantages were verv limited, for at an early age he was appren- 



CLOCK MAKERS. 237 

ticed to Calvin Hoadley to learn the carpenter's trade, which 
he Ibllovved till 1809. He then associated himself with Eli 
Terry and Seth Thomas for the manufacture of wood clocks at a 
small settlement then called Ireland, afterwards termed Hoadley- 
ville, in the southern part of Plymouth. The village is now 
called Greystone. In iSio Mr. Terry sold out to Hoadley and 
Thomas, who carried on the business till 1S14, when Mr. 
Thomas sold his interest to Mr. Hoadley and set up the manu- 
facture of wood clocks in Plymouth Hollow, now Thomaston. 
Mr. Hoadley continued the business till about 1849, when he 
rented the shops for the making of knives and sliears till his 
death in 1870. By his own eftbrts he had amassed a good pro- 
perty by which his fiimily and the public were helped. In a mild 
way Mr. Hoadley held to his opinion with tenacity, but had the 
highest respect for other people's, and was genial and courteous 
to every one. He took an active interest in the aflairs of State, 
town and church. In politics he was a Democrat of the Jackson 
stripe, and was repeatedly honored by his townsmen, being 
elected to the General Assembly in the years 1S32, 1837 and 
1S53, and to the State Senate in 1844, positions which he most 
faithfully and honorably discharged to the satisfaction of his con- 
stituents and friends. In the legislative halls of his state, his 
happy way of illustrating his ideas always commanded respect 
and attention. In religion Mr. Hoadley was an Episcopalian 
and a regular attendant at St. Peter's Church, of which he was 
a vestryman, and which was benefited by his counsel and con- 
tributions and generously remembered in his will. At the con- 
vention of the diocese he was frequentlv a delegate, took an 
active part and was listened to with interest. 

Mr. Hoadley was a Free Mason of high standing and one of 
the most respected and oldest members of Harmonv Lodge, No. 
42, F. and A. M., having been intimately associated with the 
order for more than half a century, uniting with the old Federal 
Lodge in Watertown in 1S17. His lodge bears testimony that 
"his heart was in the right place, with a hand as open as the 
day to meeting charity. Of him it may be truly said ' an honest 
man is the noblest work of God.'" 

His children were Milo, born July 25, 1S09, married Sarah 
E. Scoville ; George Thompson, born September 23, 181 1, mar- 
ried Eunice Tomlinson ; Luther Hopkins, born July 29, 1813, 
married first, Jane E. Welton, second, Ellen Nicholson ; Sarah 
Jane, born June 32, 181 7, married September, 1832, Hon. Henry 
A. Mitchell, of Bristol ; Mary Ann, born May 4, 1814, married 
first, September 2, 1836, George B. Seymour, Washington, 
Conn., second, June 17, George Tomlinson, of Plvmouth. 

CHAUNCEY JEROME. 

Chauncey Jerome commenced his career in clock mading in 
Plymouth in the year 18 18. He was by trade a ioiner, and one 
of the buildings now standing erected bv hini is the one the post 
office in Terryville is located in. He begfan the clock business 



23S HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

by purchasing the movements without cases and fitting up cases 
for them. He afterwards moved to Bristol and carried on the 
clockmaking Imsiness there, where he commenced the making 
of brass clocks with cheap wire pinion. In the year 1844 he 
commenced the making of clocks in New Haven, and there 
prosecuted the business successfully for several years, exporting 
a large part of his production to European countries. The cor- 
poration known as the New Haven Clock Company had its 
origin in the business first commenced by Mr. Jerome. By mis- 
placed confitlence in other men, and by a disregard of rules of 
safety in pecuniarv transactions he was suddenly bereft of his 
estate, which occurred too late in life for him to recover or to 
succeed in any undertaking afterward. 

HIRAM AND HEMAN WEI.TOX. 

Hiram and Heman Welton were two other jDrominent clock 
makers in the history of Plymouth. They bought out Eli Terry, 
Jr., and occupied for several years what is now called the " up- 
per " lock shop. At the time their business was the most promi- 
nent in Terryville, and many of the men who subsequently 
became lock makers were brought to the village by the Weltons. 
When they failed their shop was immediately utilized for the 
manufacture of locks. Hiram Welton lived and died in Terry- 
ville, and both he and his brother Heman, together with their 
families, were identified for many years with its growth. 

In the same building Albert Welton manufactured knobs. 
He built the house in the rear of the old Mix homestead, which 
he occupied. He also was prominent in the growth of Terry- 
ville. 

EARLY CLOCK MAKING. 

Henry Terry, in 1S72, publislieda small pamphlet on Ameri- 
can Clock Making, from which is quoted the following: 

'^ Little is known concerning the making of clocks in this 
country anterior to the period of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, 1776. There were indeed a few clock makers in New 
England and elsewhere before this time. Very few American 
clocks, however, can be found made before this, and those are 
brass clocks having a pendulum forty inches in length and 
vibrating in one second of time and adapted to a long case stand- 
ing on the floor with a dial six feet from the floor. 

" It is not known that any wooden clocks were made before 
this time, and very few, if any, anterior tD the year 1792. The 
brass clocks made at this early period were all similar to the 
English brass clocks, and evidently made by men of skill in this 
department of labor. The clocks are still to be found. The 
workmanship of these American clocks is not inferior to those 
imported. An American clock was made in the town of Rox- 
bury, Mass., bv Simon Willard. A patent was obtained on it 
in the year 1S02. This proves what we had supposed to be the 
truth before, that this kind of clock was an American production, 



CLOCK MAKERS. 239 

and that the art of making clocks in this country at that time 
was quite in advance of the arts touching other manufactures. 
These clocks have from that time been considered good time 
keepers. There is evidence that good brass clocks were made 
in this country more than a hundred years ago. The same kind 
of brass clock, with much the same style and form of case, has 
been made ever since by manufacturers near Boston and else- 
where. The statement therefore, that has been made in adver- 
tising circulars and other publications, that American clocks 
were made wholly of wood until a late period, is not entitled to 
credit; nor has the story that ' the wheels were marked on the 
wood with square and compass, and then cut out with a fine saw 
and jack knife' any better foundation. It is a traditional fabri- 
cation — a foolish story. It is wholly needless to give currency 
to such fabulous stories, and stereotype them as part of the early 
history of clock making in this country. The clock makers of 
that age, as well as the artisans in other departments of labor, 
were not such bunglers as some would make them, 

"As part of this history, it should here be stated, that Asa 
Hopkins, of the parish of Northtield, town of Litchfield, Conn., 
obtained a patent about the year 1813, on an engine for cutting 
wheels. This invention was for the introduction and use of 
three mandrels, by which one row of teeth, on a number of 
wheels, was furnished by one operation of the engine, a machine 
still in use, but superceded at the time by a new construction of 
an engine with only one mandrel. Mr. Hopkins, whose factory 
was four miles or more north of Thomaston, profitted little by 
that patent. He had few superiors as to mechanical skill, how- 
ever, and really did more in the way of improvements in machin- 
ery, than others whose names have become a trademark for the 
prosecution and continuance of the business. We speak not 
here against this use of names. It is right; yet, in giving the 
history of anv branch of industry, it is not right to ignore the 
skill and enterprise of men who in the earlv struggle contributed 
so largely to help along such business." 



CHAPTER XI. 



LOCK :\IAKERS. 



Troubles Which Beset the Pioneers of the Cabinet and Trunk Lock Business 
That Was Established in America by Terryville Men of Indomitable Will 
and Pluck— Sketches and Portraits oi All— E. L. Gaylord, the Only Survivor, 
Lives in Bridgeport. 

TO Stephen G. Bucknall should be given the credit of making 
the first cabinet locks in this country. He was an English- 
man, and had learned the machinest and locksmith trade belbre 
coming to this country in 1S33. He brought with him a few 
crude tools, and in compnny with a man of limited means he 
began the manufacture of locks in Watertown, Conn. Being 
unable to continue business because of the lack of funds the firm 
sold out to Eli Terry, Jr., who moved the machinery and stock 
to Terryville, Mr. Bucknall being hired to continue making pat- 
terns by Mr. Terry, and moved into the house opposite the 
"upper" shop, where he resided until he removed, about 1S40, 
and worked for Russell & Erwin in New Britain several years. 
Mr. Terry, soon after purching, sold the business to Lewis, Mc- 
Kee & Co., a company organized for this purpose, and composed 
of Eli Terrv, 2d, John C. Lewis and William McKee, who had 
previously been engaged in the clock business. 

This company was, of course, entirely without experience, 
and had everything to learn. The managers found themselves 
ignorant of the nature of their materials and the best manner of 
working them ; and the thousand and one little matters of prac- 
tice, that seem simple enough now, were the fruits of long, 
laborious and often unsuccessful trial. 

Their workmen were, with one exception, wholly unac- 
quainted with the business, and he knew only the old English 
ways, and the tools they made and used were bungling and ill- 
adapted to the purposes for which they were intended. Their 
machinery was rude in form and inconvenient in practice. For 
years after they commenced they had no engine lathe, and such a 
thing was scarcely known in all the manufactories of the state. 
For a long time they used only hand presses, cutting out the 
heavy parts with immense labor, though they were the first to 
introduce the power press, now universally used in manuiactur- 



LOCK MAKERS. 24I 

ing every variety of hardware. They imported some of their 
lock-plates already bent up, for the significant reason that they 
could import them cheaper than they could the rav\^ stock. The 
work produced, of course, partook somewhat of the nature of 
their machinery and lacked finish. Knowing nothing of the de- 
mands of the trade, they made many goods not at all adapted to 
the wants of the country. 

Thus equipped they made their appearance in a market 
stutled with English goods. Here they met with a decided 
rebufl'. It is difficult at this day to conceive of the inveterate 
prejudice which existed against American manufactures at that 
time. Hardware men would scarcely look at an American lock, 
and the man who oftered them felt called upon to make a hasty 
retreat, fearing " extra inducements." The idea that Americans 
could compete successfully with the English in the manufacture 
of locks was generally scouted by dealers. A few commission 
houses were willing to take them, and work them ofi'one by one, 
but the sales were very slow. The consequence of this, as the 
reader will readily for^eee, was that the company's resources 
were locked up in piles of unsalable goods, and bankruptcy 
stared them in the face Such was the position of atl'airs in 
1S41, when Eli Terry, 3d, the president of the company, died. 
In the settlement of iiis estate, the concern was bought by Lewis 
& Gaylord. The new company progressed slowly, adding new 
and improved machinery, introducing styles of locks better 
suited to the trade, and putting their price where it would meet 
the English competition. In 1S49 ^^''- Lewis died, and the 
Lewis Lock Company was formed, the stock being taken prin- 
cipally bv his heirs and the surviving partner. 

In the meantime, Bucknall, McKee & Co. had started the 
first manufactory of trunk locks in this country. They availed 
themselves of the experience gained in making cabinet locks, 
but failed to make the business pay. About 1S40, they sold out 
to Warren Goodwin, who removed to Wolcottville, where he 
was soon after burned out, and afterwards returned to Terryville. 
Meanwhile Williams, McKee & Co. had commenced the busi- 
ness anew at Terryville, where they continued imtil 1S46, and 
then sold out to James Terry & Co. Each of these companies 
met with the same difficulties in the shop and in the market that 
were encountered by Lewis, McKee & Co., and they were barely 
able to pay their debts and made no dividends. James Terry & 
Co. added to their business the manufacture of carpet bag frames 
which was conducted principally at Newark, N. J., and they also 
made a few cabinet locks. In 1854 the two companies, James 
Terry & Co., and what was the Lewis & Gaylord Co., consoli- 
dated and became what is now the Eagle Lock Company. James 
Terry was made president of the new company, and under his 
able management dividends as high as 1S5 per cent, were paid 
and the stock was sold up to $8 for $1. The stock is quoted 
now at sixty-seven (par $25), and dividends have declined to 
twelve per cent., due to severe competition, which the company 
was unable to check alter spending hundreds of thousands of 



34^ 



HISTORY OF FI.YMOUTH. 




Steplieii G. BucUnall. 



I.OCK MAKERS. 243 

dollars to buy out competing concerns, notably W. & E. T. 
Fitcb of New Haven, Crouch cK: Fitzgerald of New York, Gay- 
lord Lock Company, Gaylord, Mix & Company, Western Lock 
Company, Eccentric Lock Company, American Lock Company, 
Bridgeport Lock Company, Walsh of Newark, and others. 

The company had its early financial trials, but owing to the 
integrity of its president, James Terry, was enabled to pull 
through, when other concerns were obliged to go out of business. 
This was true particularly in the years 18^7 and iS^S, when 
there was a panic following the failure of the Ohio Life and 
Trust Company, when the wheels of trade were completely 
blocked. This naturally gave Mr. Terry no little anxiety, but 
he had the confidence of the community and of the banks, and 
weathered the panic with very little loss to the company. The 
men were allowed to continue their work on short time, trusting 
to the future for their pay, and they were not disappointed, and 
the company were able in a few months to sell advantageously 
the goods that would not have been made except for the benefit 
of the laboring men. Mr. Terry's supervision extended to every 
detail of the business, and nothing escaped his eye. In his 
caution he attempted nothing that he could not reasonably anti- 
cipate the means of cairying out. In those early days business 
was done largely on credit, very few concerns having the capital 
to invest in uncertain speculations, or even to follow their legiti- 
mate business to its best results. Unlike many, he preferred to 
defer even desirable improvements till they could be undertaken 
with reasonable safety. 

HON. J. C. LEWIS. 

Hon. John Calhoun Lewis was born at Cornwall, Conn., in 
the year iSoo. He was a grandson of Nehemiah Lewis, who 
sei'ved in the war of the Revolution, and who settled the town of 
Goshen, a direct descendant of Captain William Lewis, the first 
registrar in Farmington, who came from England with his 
father, William Lewis, in the ship Lion in 1633. John Calhoun 
Lewis was the eldest of a family of five brothers, all of whom 
became conspicuous citizens of the state. His father was for 
years postmaster at Cornwall, while John and Philo were each 
in turn postmaster at Terryville. One brother, Miles, was for 
twenty-three years a highly esteemed captain of the New Haven 
Steamboat Company, and another, Henry Gould, was nine times 
elected mayor of the city of New Haven. About 1835 John 
Calhoun removed from Cornwall to Terryville, and for a time 
was engaged in the dry goods business with his brother Philo. 
He afterwards became interested in the lock business, and was a 
member of the firm of Lewis, McKee & Co. Upon the death of 
Mr. Terry, in 1841, a new firm was formed, called the Lewis & 
Gaylord Company, and under their management the manufacture 
of cabinet locks in this country first became prominent. In 1S49 
occurred the death of Mr. Lewis. The surviving partner carried 
on the business until 18=^1, at which time the Lewis Lock Com- 
pany was formed, the stock being taken by Sereno Gaylord, the 



244 



HlSTOllV OF PLYMOUTH. 




John C. Lewis. 




Sereno Ga\ UirJ. 



LOCK MAKEr?S. 



245 



heirs of Mr. Lewis and a few others. Mr. Lewis was for years 
a trial justice, and as a citizen was always an earnest supporter 
of movements promising to be for the best interest of the com- 
munity. In politics he was a prominent abolitionist, and at the 
time of his death was a member of the legislature, occupying the 
position of speaker of the House of Representatives. He was 
an upright, conscientious man, firm in his convictions for right, 
and noticeable for his strong Christian principles. In fact, he 
would not have a man in his employ that did not attend 
his own church. He married, July 4, 1844, for his second wife, 
Mary Warner, relict of David C. Lord, a most estimable woman, 
who was known for her good works. She was a descendant of 
Captain John Warner, who fought in the Revolutionary war. 
For years Long Hill, from Thomaston to Plymouth Center, w^as 
known as the "Captain John Warner Hill." Mr. Lewis died in 
the prime of life, leaving a widow and children to mourn his 
loss. 

"He lived esteemed, beloved and respected. 
He died regretted, honored and lamented." 

The children who survive him by his first wife (Ann Hop- 
kins of Cornwall) are : Ellen Paige, who resides in Rockford, 
111., and John Calhoun of Austin, Tex., connected with the 
traffic management. By his second wife (Mary Warner), Mary 
A., wife of General George H. Ford of New Haven, Conn., and 
Thomas Clarkson, for many years a prominent merchant in New 
Haven, Conn., and for the past few vears a resident of Chicago. 

SERENO GAYLORU. 

Sereno Gaylord, who removed to Chicopee, Mass., was 
born in South Hadley, Alass., in 1S12. He came to Terryville 
in 1834, and was employed by Lewis, McKee & Co. Stephen 
G. Bucknall was at that time superintendent, but being unable 
to keep up with the progress of American ways, was superceded 
by Mr. Gaylord, who took charge and immediately adopted 
machinery to do what heretofore had been done by hand. This 
enabled the company to enter into active competition with foreign 
manufacturers and to hold the market against all odds. In 1841 
Mr. Gaylord, with John C. Lewis, formed a company known as 
the Lewis & Gaylord Company, which bought out Lewis, Mc- 
Kee & Co. Eli Terry, president of the latter company, having 
died, it was necessary to sell to settle his estate. The new com- 
pany, however, did not buy the finished goods, but onlv the tools 
and machinery, and it was agreed that no locks should be made 
like those the old comcern had on hand until after thev had been 
disposed of. The business of the new company was a success 
from the start, and it was carried on until Mr. Lewis' death, 
seven 3'ears later, when the Lewis Lock Company was formed, 
the stock being taken by the Lewis family and Mr. Gavlord, the 
surviving partner. This continued until the company was con- 
solidated with the James Terry Companv, under the name of the 



246 



HISTORY OF PI^MOIITH. 




William h McKee. 




Mctlier of Willi;im E. McKee. 



LOCK MAKERS. 



247 



Eagle Lock Company. Mr. Gaylord in 1863 went to Chicopee» 
where he started the Gaylord Lock Company, which soon entered 
into active comperition with the Eagle Lock Company in the 
manulacture of locks. Mr. Gaylord's company was such a suc- 
cess that overtures were made by the Eagle Lock Company to 
pool issues, which Mr. Gaylord finally consented to, and the 
two concerns were run under this agreement until the Chicopee 
shop was sold out. Mr. Gavlord was a representative from 
Plymouth in the legislature and was always interested in town 
affairs as Ions' as he res-ided tliere. 



WILLIAM E. M KEE. 

William E. McKee, who was a manufacturer of both clocks 
and locks in Terryville, was born in Bristol, January 2, 1S06, 
and died in New Haven, July 26, 1S75. ^^ '^^^^ interested in 
all of the earlv lock companies, and much of the former success 
of the Eagle Lock Company is due to his sagacity and experi- 
ence. His daughter, Emeline, married Joseph H. Adams, who 
was president of the Eagle Lock Company for three years. ISIr. 
McKee could not have been greatly encouraged when he first 
ventured in the lock business, for it was far from smooth sailing 
for many years, but his faith never relaxed and he was finally- 
rewarded by being able to dispose of his stock at an enormous 
advance and pocket the princely dividend of 1S5 per cent. 

JAMES TERRY. 

James Terry, son of Eli Terry, Jr., was born at Terry's 
Mills, one mile south of Thomaston, July 5, 1S23. The death 
of his father in 1S41 placed upon his young shoulders the cares 
and responsibilities of a large estate, he being then but eighteen 
years of age, and the extraordinary talents and force of character 
which he exhibited through his after business life were shown 
to a marked degree at this time. 

In 1841 he commenced the manufacture of sewing silk, the 
factory being situated on the side hill southeast of the homestead 
and directly west of the Philip Ryan place. Previous to this 
the introduction of a new plant, the Perottet Mulberry, or 
Morns Mtilticaulis^ from its great productiveness and rapid in- 
crease in numbers, had aroused public interest to a high degree 
and stimulated the development of silk cultvu-e and manufacture. 
He built his own machinery and commenced to wind and twist 
the fibre by power machinery. This was a new process and a 
difficult one, having for the first time been in operation in Con- 
necticut onl}' two or three years previous, all methods in the 
old coimtry being the hand process. He continued the silk busi- 
ness for three years, and then closed it up and purchased the 
lock business of Lewis, McKee & Co., which was at a very low 
ebb, and commenced the manufacture of locks under the title of 
James Terry & Co , his uncle, William E. McKee being asso- 
ciated with him in the business. This he continued until the 



248 



IIISIOKN OF PI.^■.MOl TH. 





James Terr\'s Cottage. 



LOCK MAKERS. 249 

formation of the Eagle Lock Company, of which he was the 
chief promoter and its president, until his retirement from busi- 
ness life in iS66. 

He was a man of the highest integrity of character, of great 
sagacity and practical knowledge of the business in all its 
branches and details. And the success of the lock business, 
which has proved to be one of the most remunerative industries 
in the country, is due pre-eminently to him. 

Mr. Terry was twice married, first to Elizabeth Hollister of 
Glastonbury, by whom he had four children, James, Mary E., 
Clinton, and one who died in infancy, all ot whom were born 
in Terryville. Mrs. Terry died in 1S53, and he married for his 
second wife Valeria, daughter oi' William Treat, October 20, 
1853. By this union three children were born, Lerria F., who 
died at the age of eleven years, Nellie, who married Dwight 
W. Hunter, and died in 1S9-}, and an infant. 

EDWARD L. GAVLORD. 

In 1S47 there came to Terryville from Bristol a young man 
who was full of enterprise and inventive genius. He went to 
work for James Terry & Co., and when asked how much pay 
he wanted he replied, "Oh give me what you have a mind to." 
Starting in at fifty cents per day, and never asking for an increase, 
his salary was voluntarily advanced until he received $5,000 per 
year. This young man was Edward L. Gaylord. now the only 
surviving member of the original stockholders of the Eagle Lock 
Company. 

Mr. Gaylord was born in 1S27. His parents were Ransom 
and Parmela Alcott Gaylord, well known residents of Bristol, 
his mother being a sister of A. Bronson Alcott, who, though 
well known in the literary world, perhaps is more readily re- 
called as the father of Louisa Alcott, both of whom are subjects 
of sketches elsewhere. Mr. Gaylord when four years old re- 
moved with his parents to central New York, riding from Albany 
to Schenectady on the first passenger railroad operated in this 
country. Here he learned cabinet making. At the age of nine- 
teen he returned and went to work at clock making for Kirk & 
Todd in Wolcott, in that section known as Woodtick. This was 
where the first marine movement was made ; another original 
novelty being a musical clock playing seven tunes. 

Dropping this Mr. Gaylord started in at the lock trade at 
Terryville. This he followed until 1S50, when he was sent to 
Newark, N. J., by James Terry & Co. to make the iron frames 
for carpet bags from patterns and designs of his own. The de- 
velopment of the many railroads had made a large demand for 
traveling valises. This business was very successful, and the 
money coming to Terryville made the lock business of James 
Terry & Co. seem more prosperous than it actually was, 
especially as the carpet bag frame venture was kept very quiet. 
This had its bearing in another way. At this time Gaylord & 
Lewis were making: cabinet locks, and T'lnies Terry & Co. trunk 



'50 



iiisrom' oi-' Pi.^MOU'iH. 




E. L. Gaylord. 




Joseph H. Adam^ 



LOCK MAKERS. 25 1 

locks, but as the latter now started in making cabinet locks also, 
and were apparently making money, the former company made 
propositions to consolidate, and what is now the Eagle Lock 
Company was the subsequent outcome. 

It was decided to accept a liberal offer for the Newark ven- 
ture, and Mr. Gaylord was brought back to take charge of what 
was then known as the lower lock shop. Then followed many 
new designs in locks and labor saving devices in their manufac- 
ture, the product of Mr. Gaylord's fertile brain, the most promi- 
nent being the device for squaring lockplates and machine for 
drilling keys, the latter turning out 12,000 keys a day and run- 
ning fifteen years without any repairs. During Mr. Gaylord's 
superintendency he took out some eighty patents, all of which 
were turned over to the Eagle Lock Company without compen- 
sation, and were practicable inventions. 

In 1S70 Messrs. James and F. W. Mix obtained a contract 
from the government for furnishing padlocks for the United 
States mail, and having been offered an opportunity to form a co- 
partnership with them for their manufacture, Mr. Gaylord 
accepted and a company under the firm name of Gaylord, Mix & 
Co. was formed to make the locks. The first lot was turned out 
in the old shop at Pequabuck, afterward burned, and as the busi- 
ness grew it was transferred to Bridgeport. New designs in 
cabinet locks were added and the firm received large orders from 
the leading sewing machine companies. This made the concern 
competitors of the Eeagle Lock Company, which opened nego- 
tiations and bought it out. Mr. Gaylord returned to Terryville 
and again became president and superintendent of the Lock 
Company. He resigned after one year's service, sold his inter- 
est (receiving, it is said, $8 for $i par value), and since has re- 
sided in Bridgeport. He has not been inactive, as numerous in- 
ventions can testify, the latest being a cigar-holder which is 
designed to save what the ordinary holder cannot utilize. 

Mr. Gaylord for several years owned the leading art store in 
Bridgeport, and becoming deeply interested in the study of art 
he spent considerable time in Europe making himselt thorougly 
acquainted with it. He now spends his days chiefly in a little 
workshop in the rear of his residence which is fitted up with 
power and machinery, continuing in his old age the life of inven- 
tion that he has so long lived. 

He recently put up a large building, which is now run 
as a hotel, being known as the " Gaillard," the spelling being 
changed to conform to the original name that " Gaylord " was 
derived from. 

Mr. Gaylord in 1S51 married Mary R. Minor of Terryville, 
to whom were born two children. Anna May, now Mrs, F. S. 
Stevens of Bridgeport, and Jesse D., who lives at home. 

JOSEPH H. ADAMS. 

From the store in Terryville, built by Eli Terry, have gone 
forth some of the brightest young men, men who were later in 
life destined to make their mark in the world. One graduate 



HISTOUV OP^ I'l.\ .Mt)U III. 




Ansel GavlorJ. 




De:iC(.n R D. H. Allen. 



LOCK MAKERS. 253 

was a youth of seventeen who came to Terry villa in 1S50 from 
Litchfield. After a short apprenticeship in the store he was 
hired by Lewis & Gaylord to keep their books, and from this 
humble position he gradually arose from one position to another 
until he succeeded James Terry, when his healUi failed, as presi- 
dent of the Eagle Lock Company. This was Joseph H. Adams, 
born in Litchfield, August 19, 1833. He died suddenly at Cham- 
plain, 111., May 17, 1S70, while on a business trip — cut down in 
the very prime of life. He married Emeline, daughter of Wil- 
liam E. McKee. Mrs. Adams now resides in Brooklyn, and 
with her are her son and daughter. 

The lock business had been so well managed by Mr. Terry 
that Mr. Adams bv continuing the same policy during his admin- 
istration was enabled to pav tlividends that amounted some years 
to seven times more than the face of the stock. 

ANSEL GAYLORD. 

Ansel Gaylord was born in vSouth Hadley, Mass., Feb. 22, 
1824. When sixteen years of age he was apprenticed to Henry 
Fuller, of Springfield, Mass., to learn the tailor's trade and re- 
mained with him until he came to Terryville in 1847, where he 
followed his trade lor several years. Later he entered the em- 
ploy of the Eagle Lock Company, and was one of the first 
directors of the company. At the time of his death (October, 
1S60,) he was in charge of the packing and shipping department. 
He was a brother of Sereno and Emerson Gaylord, of Chicopee 
Mass. 

In 1S53 he married Catharine Stoughton, daughter of deacon 
Andrew Stoughton, of Plymouth, by wdiom he had two children, 
Andrew S. who still resides in Terryville, and Katie A. who 
died in October, 1875, in her fifteenth year. 

ROLLIN D. H. ALLEN. 

Rollin D. H. Allen was born in Middlebury, Vt., January 
10, 1821, and was graduated from the college in his native town. 
He taught school in the old academy in Cromwell, then known 
as Upper Middletown, and studied theology in Andover and 
New Haven. He entered the ministry of the Congregational 
Church, but on account of poor health was obliged to abandon 
his chosen profession. He then resumed the work of a teacher 
in New York state. His onlv sister married Rev. Merrill Rich- 
ardson, pastor of the Terryville Congregational Church, and Mr. 
Allen came to Terryville in i8^o, and after teaching school for a 
time became bookkeeper and confidential secretary in the office 
of James Terrv & Co. At the organization of the Eagle Lock 
Company in 1854, Mr. Allen was one of the incorporators and 
the first treasvu-er. In i860, with Andrew Terry and O. D. 
Hunter, the foundrv concern of Andrew Terry & Co. was 
formed and the financial management was intrusted to Mr. Allen, 
who was secretary and treasurer of this corporation for fifteen 



254 



HISTORY OF PLVMOUIH. 




Warren Goodwin. 




James Mix. 



I.OCK MAKERS 



255 



years. In 1875116 again entered the Eagle Lock Company as 
president and Hnancial manager, and remained a director of that 
concern until his death, leaving only two surviving members of 
the Eagle Lock Compan}'s first board of directors. 

He was also a director of the corporation of A. Terry & Co. 
and the Bristol National Bank, besides trustee of the Bristol Sav- 
ings Bank, and the estate of James Terry, and a large stock- 
holder in manufacturing enterprises in the state. The last six- 
teen years of his life he was not engaged in active business, but 
had given much attention to the development of a fine farm, of 
which his youngest son is the active manager. For more than 
forty years Mr. Allen had been a respected resident of the town 
which he represented in the legislatures of 1854 and 1878. 

Mr. Allen gave generously, though quietly, to the poor and 
distressed, and was a true Christian gentleman. He was a great 
student and lover of nature, and after retiring from business in 
1877 mainly led a student's life among his books. 

Mr. Allen was married August 8, 1849, ^^ Miss Mary Eliza- 
beth Bushnell of Cromwell, who survives him. He also leaves 
three children — George M. Allen of Beloit, Wis. ; Charles I. 
Allen and Mrs. Charles W. Wolcott, both the latter residing in 
Terrvville. An older son, Henry, died in 1871. 

He united by letter with the church in Terryville in 18^1 
and served as deacon for many years. In 1891 he took a letter to 
the Congregational Church in Bristol, of which he was a mem- 
ber at the time of his death, December 19, 1893. 

WARREN GOODWIN. 

Warren Goodwin was born in New Hartford, Conn., March 
26, 1808. At ten years he was an orphan. He accompanied a 
family by the name of Steele to Ohio in the winter with an ox 
team. His early life was attended with privation and hardship. 

When he was eighteen he returned to New Hartford, Conn., 
accomplishing the journey on foot at the I'ate of thirty miles per 
day. Remaining for a time in New Hartford he came to Terry- 
ville, entering the employ of Eli Terry, Jr. After a time he 
suft'ered loss through the failure of others, and in order to retrieve 
some portion of it he, in company with Mr. Brinsmadc, went to 
Canada peddling clocks. About 1840 he bought out the trunk 
lock business of Bucknall, McKee & Co., carrying it on for a 
time in Terryville, then removing it to Cotton Hollow (West 
Torrington), where soon after he was burned out. Rebuilding 
again he admitted to partnership Edmund Wooding. His health 
failing he sold out the business to his paitner, after wdiich he was 
appointed postmaster, in the meantime engaging in the grocery 
business and farming. In 1850 he retured to Terrvville, entering 
the employ of James Terry & Co. in the lock business, where he 
remained until his death, which occurred in March, i860. He 
was one of the incorporators of the Eagle Lock Company. He 
was one of the original members of the church in Terryville, 
served as Sunday-school superintendent, and was an earnest 



2^6 



HISTOin OF IM.VMOUTH. 



yif'^ 




Elisha Mix. 




James C. Mix. 



LOCK MAKERS. 



257 



worker, always found at the prayer meeting, and deemed it a 
privilege to be there. He was married April i, 1S32, to Elvira 
Andrews McKee, by whom he had five children, Willard Terry, 
Ralph Cowles, Harriet McKee, Julia Elvira, and a daughter who 
died in infancy. Two survive him, Willard Terry and Julia 
Elvira (Mrs Ells). They are residents of Terryville. 



WILLARD T. GOOD W' IN. 

Willard Terry, the son of Warren and Elvira McKee Good- 
win, was born in Terryville, October 4, 1S33. He attended 
school until he was sev^enteen, when he entered the employ of 
James Terry & Co. The two succeeding winters he spent at the 
village school ; the first under the instruction of R. D. H. Allen, 
and the second under N. C. Boardman. In 1854 James Terry & 
Co. and the Lewis & Gaylord Co. consolidated under the name 
of the Eagle Lock Company. Although receiving several invita- 
tions to positions of trust from otlier firms, Mr. Goodwin has 
remained with the lock company for forty-five years, with the 
exception of about one year spent at Colt's Armory during the 
war of the rebellion. In his long service, which is certainly 
worthy of note, he has, for upwards of thirty years, been super- 
intendent of the die and pattern department. For about this 
same period he has also had charge of the firm's yearly inventory. 

Although his early education was not what could be called 
a liberal one, yet, as with many another New England boy, it 
has been enlarged and broadened by liberal reading, considera- 
ble travel and intelligent intercourse with "many men of many 
minds." 

In 1S53 he married Amelia Evans Fenn. Thev have had six 
children. Those living are Willard Emerson, manager of house 
furnishmg department for A. J. Muzzy & Co., Bristol, Conn. ; 
Ella Antoinette, wife of Edgar L. Pond, of the firm of A. Terry 
& Co. ; E. Clayton, machinist for Eagle Lock Compan}', also 
justice of the peace and agent for the Humane Society, and 
Ralph Cowles, secretary of the Cambridge, Mass., Y. M. C. A. 

In politics Mr. Goodwin has always been a Republican and 
belongs to the orders of Odd Fellows and American Mechanics. 
He is a member of the Terryville Congregational Church ar.d 
was for twenty years its clerk. 

JAMES MLX. 

James Mix was born in West Hartford, Conn., in 1793. He 
was the son of Elisha Mix and Amny (Webster) Mix. His 
father was a soldier for about five years in the Revolutionary 
army and a descendant of the early settlers of the colony of Hart- 
ford. In 1814 he married Mis? Lucy Steele, also of West Hart- 
ford, a daughter of Allyn vSteele, a lineal descendant of John 
Steele and Major William Bradford. Major Bradford was one 
of the four principal men who came over in the jSIayflower, and 
for nearly thirty years was Governor of the Plymouth Colonv. 



2^8 



HIS'IOKY OF l>L\MOUrn. 




Frank W. Mix. 




WillarJ T. Goodwin. 



I.OCK MAKERS. 259 

John Steele was the leader (with Thomas Hooker) of the first 
Connecticut Colony and for twenty years Recorder of the Hart- 
ford and Farmington colonies. 

Mr. Mix in his younger days learned the trade of cloth dress- 
ing and wool carding, and carried on business in Roxbury and 
in Watertown, Conn. He was also superintendent of a woolen 
factory in Humphrey sville and Manchester until 1S24, when he 
removed to Hartford and went into the mercantile business. He 
moved to Terryville, in the town of Plymouth, in 1S32, and 
entered the employ of Deacon Burnham Terry, but in 1S33 went 
to work for John C. Lewis and William E. McKee, then just 
commencing, in a small way, the manufacture of locks. He re- 
mained with them until the hard times of 1S36, when he moved 
to New Britain, remaining there during the years 1S36 and 18375 
in the emplov oi Stanley & Woodrufi', afterwards the firm of 
Russell & Erwin. In 1S36 he again removed to Terryville and 
went to work for H.Wellon & Co., clock manufacturers, making 
their dies and punches and doing their press work. He remained 
with them until about 1S45, when H. Welton & Co. failed and 
he returned to the lock business in the employ of what was then 
Lewis & Gaylord, and continued with them and the Eagle Lock 
Co., as die and tool maker, until his death in 1859. 

He held many important positions in the town and was con- 
sidered and known as an honest, upright man in all of his deal- 
ings with his fellow men; puritanical in his ideas, aristocratic by 
nature, and one who took a great deal of pride in his family and 
all that belonged to them. His life was one of continual hard 
work; raising a family often children, it was a hard struggle for 
him until he died, but he took good care of those children until 
they were able to care for themselves. His remains lie in the 
Terryville Cemetery. He belonged to the Masonic Fraternity 
and always urged his boys to join it when they were of a proper 
age. How well they followed his advise is shown by the fact 
that three out of the four boys, viz., Elisha, James and Frank 
years ago united with that organization. 

He was a soldier in the war of 181 2 and always took a great 
interest in everything that appertained to the welfare of his native 
land. 

ELISHA MIX. 

Elisha Mix, eldest son of James and Lucv Mix, was born in 
Watertown. Conn., in iSiS. At the age of eighteen he was 
residing with his parents in New Britain, and during the hard 
times of 1S36 he walked or tramped to Cayuga County, N. Y., 
where he worked one season upon a farm. The next year he 
returned to his father's home in Terryville and worked for Good- 
win, McKee & Williams, who were starting in the trunk lock 
business. At about this time a fine opening presented itself 
under Captain Tracy, of New Britain, and he removed to that 
place and went to work in the lock factory of Stanley, Russell & 
Co., afterwards Russell & Erwin, where he remained until 1S40, 
when his health having been impaired, he shipped before the 



z6o HISTORY OF PLYMOUril. 

mast for a sea voyage on a Liverpool packet. Upon his return 
from the voyage he enlisted for the Florida war. When that was 
over ne returned again to Terryville, where his family were then 
residing, and entered the employ of H. Welton & Co., as con- 
tractor and foreman, remaining with them until they failed in 
1S45. He married Miss Amelia Edmonds, of Terryville, in 
1843, and removed to New Haven in 1846, to take charge of a 
department in Chauncey Jerome's clock factory, where he re- 
mained until 1S54, when ne moved to Michigan, where he now 
resides. 

For many years he followed surveying and the lumber busi- 
ness, but in 1874 he, with his family, returned to Terryville, 
where they remained about four years, and engaged in the lock 
business. At the end of the four years he again returned to his 
home in Michigan. He enlisted in the war of the rebellion as 
captain in the Eighth Michigan Cavalry in 1863. He was pro- 
moted to major, then lieutenant-colonel and to the full colonelcy 
and commander ol his regiment. He was brevetted brigadier- 
general for long and meritorious service, and was mustered out 
in vSeptember, 1S65, at the close of the war. He was, for a time, 
in command of a large force in Central Tennesee, commensurate 
with his rank. He was respected by all with whom he came in 
contact, and served with distinction in all of his different com- 
mands during his entire service in the army. 

He has two chiUb'en, both married, and grandchildren to 
bless his old age. He is a man possessing great force of char- 
acter and energy of purpose, and there are very few men better 
informed upon any subject than he. He was a good mechanic in 
his younger days and was identified thoroughly with everything 
in Plymouth, and but for want of room, could furnish a history 
of that town and the men who have long since passed away. 

[AMES C. MIX. 

James C. Mix was born in Hartford, Conn., December 19, 
1826, where he lived until 1S33, when he moved with his parents 
to Terryville. He was naturally a fine mechanic and worked as 
such in Terryville and New Haven for about twenty-five years. 
In 1865 he was employed by the ^Etna Life Insurance Compan}', 
of Hartford, as managing agent for New York State, with, head- 
c[uarters at Syracuse, to which city he moved with his f;imily in 
the fall of that year, remaining there for twenty-three years. 

In 1S70, co-working with his brother, Frank W. Mix, he 
invented and obtained a patent upon a mail bag lock, which was 
used by the United States Government for many years. The 
brothers Mix formed a company for the manufacture of these 
locks, the firm being known as Gaylord, Mix & Co., which con- 
cern afterwards sold out to the Eagle Lock Company, of Terry- 
ville. 

In 1S79 Mr. Mix was employed as managing agent for 
Central New York by the New York Life Insurance Company, 
and from that time, with two or three short intermissions, was an 



LOCK MAKERS. 26l 

earnest worker lor that company. In 1888 he removed with his 
family from Syracuse to New York City, where he founded what 
is known as the Manhattan Department of the New York Life 
Insurance Company. By dint of hard work and unselfish devo- 
tion to the company's interests, in the short space of four years 
he placed his department in the very first rank, and it is to-day 
perhaps his most fitting monument. It may be truthfully said of 
him, that he was one of the leading life insurance men of his 
time. 

In 1847 Mr Mix married Miranda, daughter of Robert 
Johnson, of Terryville, who survives him. Six children were 
born to them, only two of whom, Lucy S. and Robert J., are 
now living, the latter having succeeded his father as manager of 
the Manhattan Department. In the summer of 1S93 Mr. Mix 
was taken seriously ill, but remained at his post until he became 
too feel)le to leave his bed. In November of that year, upon the 
advice of his pliysicians, he was accompanied by his family to 
Nassau, in the Island of New Providence, Bahamas, but the 
change failed to benefit him, and he died there on the iith of 
December, 1893, after five months of terrible suffering. 

His remains were brought back to his childhood home, 
Terryville, where funeral services were held in the chinch for 
which he labored earnestly for many years. His body now lies 
besides those of his deceased children in the beautiful cemetery 
on the hill. It is no exaggeration to say that he gave his life to 
his work. 



MAJOR P'RAKK W. MIX. 

Major Frank W. Mix was born in Terryville, February 17, 
1834. He attended the village school until he was sixteen, when 
he went into the factory with his father. What is now the Eagle 
Lock Company, in Terryville, was then Lewis & Gay lord. Here 
he learned the art of die-making and pressing and obtained a 
general idea of machine work. At the age of twenty he left 
home, going to Waterbury to perfect himself as a machinist and 
tool-maker. At the end of six months he accepted a call from 
New Haven to take charge of the die and press work of the New 
Haven Clock Company, where lie remained a year. Still having 
a desire to become a perfect tool-maker, he secured a position 
with what is now the Winchester Arms Company, then run by 
Smith & Wesson, as a tool-maker, remaining there until the 
concern failed in 1S57. While in New Haven, Major Mix 
became actively interested in musical matters, having charge ot 
the choir and playing the organ in one of the churches. Here 
he was also married in 1856. After the failure of the pistol 
company. Major Mix went into the sewing machine business 
with his fatlier-in-law, R. B. Fuller, locating in Mansfield, after- 
wards in Norwich, continuing until 1S60, when they sold out, 
the Major going to the Sharp's Rifle Factory in Hartford. In 
the Spring of i86r, his health being impaired, he removed to 



HISTOHY OF PLYMOUTH. 




EJwarJ H. Mix 




Henrv T. Wheeler. 



I.OCK iMAKEKS. 263 

Michigan, where, September i, 1S61, he enlisted in the Third 
Michigan Cavahy, with which he served for eleven months, 
when he was appointed a captain ol' the famous Fourth Michi- 
gan Cavalry. While with the Third he took part in the capture 
of New Madrid and Island No. 10, and the battles of Corinth, 
Inka, and Boonville, Miss. He joined the Fourth Cavalry at 
Mumfordsville, Ky., and was promoted to be major for gallantry 
at the battles of Stone River. While he was in command of the 
regiment it took part in eighty-four general engagements, not to 
mention scores of lesser evenis. These included Chattanooga, 
Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and most of the important actions 
of the Western Army up to the siege of Atlanta. He .was 
severely wounded at Lovejo}'s Station, in August, 1S64, on 
account of which he received an honorable discharge in the fol- 
lowing November. He lost two horses in action and was 
repeatedly named by corps and brigade commanders for gallantrv, 
promptness, and the skillful manner in which he handled his 
regiment in tight places. On two different occasions the brigade 
commander attributed the success of his brigade "to the 
brilliancy and tenacity of the fighting of the Fourth Michigan, 
under the command of Major Frank W, Mix." It was this 
regiment that at the close of the war captured Jefi'erson Davis. 

During the last twenty-nine years. Major Mix has resided in 
this state, engaged in the manufacture, as well as the invention, 
of locks. During that time he has probably taken out more 
patents on cabinet and trunk locks than any man in the coui.try. 
In 1S70, in connection with his brother James, he brought out a 
padlock, known as the Mix lock, which the Government adopted 
for mail bags and which was manufactured by the Eagle Lock 
Company, where Major Mix was employed as superintendent 
for ten years. Subsequently he resided in New Britain as super- 
intendent of fhe Corbin Cabinet Lock Co., in which he made a 
notable success, as is attested by the flourishing condition of the 
business at the present time. 

In 1S91, Henry R. Towne, president of the Yale & Tow-ne 
Mfg. Co., of Stamford, sent for him to organize a cabinet lock 
department for that companv. Mr. Mix accepted and has since 
been with this company. His ambition has always been to be 
at the head of the cabinet lock business, and with his practical 
knowledge, that is the place where he belongs. 

He has a wife, who, before her marriage, was Miss Mary J. 
Fuller, and three children, a son and two daughters. His only 
son was the organizer and superintendent of the Government 
^lall Lock and Repair Shop in Washington for two vears and a 
half, wlien he resigned this position to accept one with his father 
in Stamford, as his assistant, where he is now. 

The Major is alvvavs a Republican in politics, is connected 
with the Congregational Church, is a member of the Masonic 
Fraternity, of the O. U. A. M., the Grand Army, the Arm}' and 
Navy Club, and tlie Putnam Phalanx. He is a useful and 
respected citizen, and occupies, with his famih', an honorable 
position in the communitv. 



264 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



EDWAKD H, MIX. 

Edward H. Alix, youngest son of James and Lucy Mix, was 
born in Terryville, December 11, 1S3S, and with the exception 
of the time spent in the army, his days were all passed in the 
lock business. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted and 
entered the Foiuth Connecticut Infantry as first lieutenant. 
After serving there quite a while, he was promoted to captain of 
Company B, Sixteenth Connecticut Infantry, said company hav- 
ing been raised in Hartford, Conn. 

He was drowned in Albermarle Sound, March S, 1S64, 
while trying to reach his regiment, then at Newberne, N. C, by 
being knocked off the vessel by the swinging of the boom. He 
left a record as a good soldier, and no finer looking one ever 
lived. He was an earnest Christian and a good worker in the 
church in Terryville, to which he belonged, and we are justified 
in saying that no brighter or more energetic young man ever 
lived in Plymouth. 

HENRY T. WHEELER. 

Henry T. Wheeler was born in Great Harrington, Mass., 
and married Miss Mary E. Priest of Barkhamstead. He came 
to Terryville in 18S2 to superintend the Eagle Lock Company's 
works, succeeding F. W. Mix, and continued to hold the posi- 
tion until 1S89, when Major Ells was appointed superintendent. 
Mr. Wheeler then removed to Collinsville and engaged in the hotel 
business, which is known as the Valley House. 




J 9 } ! 

,. ■ i>!i III 8 1 nan ill 4*,Kfc^ V i^i*- s 




The First Lock Slior. 



CHAPTER XII. 



ANDUEW TKRRY AND CO. 



Sketch of the Founder of This Prosperous Concern which was One of the Pioneers 
in the Malleable Iron Industry— The Men who Have Successfully Managed 
and Kept It Running as Steadily Nearly as Clock Work for Close on to Half a 
Century. 

THE establishment of A. Terry & Company is among the 
pioneers of the malleable iron industry in the United States 
and has grown from a shop forty feet square with one air fur- 
nace and three small annealing kilns, each having twenty-lour 
pots capacity, all operated by twenty-five men, into a plant 
covering an area of about one and one-half acres, giving employ- 
ment to io8 men and producing a daily output of nearly two tons 
of a superior quality of malleable iron castings, which vary in 
weight from those so small that two gross weigh less than a 
pound, to others which weigh three pounds each. 

Ground was broken for this foundry November 24, 1847? ^Y 
Andrew Terry, brother of James Terry, the first president of the 
Eagle Lock Company, and the second son of Eli Terry, 2d. 
The latter gentleman was the son of Eli Terry, the first manu- 
facturer of clocks in this country and the founder of the village 
of Terry ville. Little was known about the process of making 
malleable iron at that time, and the new concern struggled for 
existence for a good many years, during which time Mr. Terry 
gathered around him men of practical ingenuity, business ability 
and good sense, and in i860 he associated with himself O. D. 
Hunter, who had learned the business in his employ, and 
R. D. H. Allen, who came from a clerical position in the Eagle 
Lock Company's office. These three men formed a joint stock 
company under its present name with a capital of $i6,oco, after- 
wards increased to $20,000. In 1871 Mr. Terry sold his interest 
to his partners and went to Kansas. His successors admitted 
into the company N. Taylor Baldwin, a brother-in-law of Mr. 
Terry, and J. W. Clark, the latter having been trained in the 
company's employ. In 1S75 R. D. H. Allen returned to the 
Eagle Lock Company, and N. Taylor Baldwin succeeded to the 
financial management until his death in 1SS9. 

The present officers of the company are : O. D. Hunter, 
president, and J. W. Clark, secretary and treasurer. The stock 



i66 



iiisioi;v oi'" I'l.vMoirrii. 




Tlif Old Foundr\— Front View. 




The OIJ FounJrv -Rear View. 



ANDREW TEURY AND CO. 267 

is all owned in Terryville. Between forty and fifty moulders 
are employed. There are two cupolas for melting iron, one of 
which is used exclusively to cast the annealing pots used in the 
works. About six tons of iron are daily melted. In the anneal- 
ing department the kilns are, with only two exceptions, fitted up 
with the Aerated Fuel Company's oil burners and heated with 
crude oil, which is stored in a nest of tanks midway between the 
New York and New England railroad tracks and the shops, 
having a capacity of 17,000 gallons. With the exception of the 
eight annealing furnaces, each holding seventy-two pots, six 
furnaces being operated by steam power, the entire plant is run 
bv water power, the company owning one of the finest water 
privileges on the line of the Pequabuck river. The business is 
managed by O. D. Hunter, the president, and J. W. Clark, the 
secretary and treasurer. The former has been actively engaged 
with the establishment for forty-six consecutive years and the 
latter for thirty-three years. Both are practical malleable iron 
makers. 

The annealing department is in charge of Charles Purington, 
who has given careful attention to this most important branch 
for twentv-five years. The moulding shop is superintended by 
Edgar L. Pond, who has been with the company over twenty- 
three years. The clerical work is performed by Jonathan Starr, 
who came to the office shortly after Mr. Baldwin's death, as 
assistant secretary and bookkeeper, with an experience of twenty- 
one years in bookkeeping, and George E. Bushnell, who has 
been an attache of the office for twenty-four years past. 

Since the above was written, the buildings, except the 
otfice, have all been swept away by fire, but new buildings have 
been erected which will be much more convenient and imposing. 

ANDREW TERRY. 

Andrew Terry was born in Terryville, Conn., December 
29, 1S24, at the old homestead, still standing, on the south side 
of the road, west of the upper lock shop. He was the second 
son of Eli Terry, Jr., and Samantha McKee. At the famous 
boy's school kept by Deacon Hart, in Farmington, Conn , he 
pursued classical studies almost to the point required for entering 
college. Soon after his father's death, and before becoming of 
age, he went to Washington, Pa., and became clerk in a store. 
In that place he made the acquaintance of Susan Orr, whom he 
married October 16, 1844. They had two children; Gertrude, 
who died April 10, 1S56, and Margaret, who married C. S. 
Treadway, cashier of the Bristol National Bank, and died Sep- 
tember 17, iSSo. 

Returning to Terryville immediately after his marriage, he 
established himself as a country merchant in "the store," which 
all of the older citizens of Terryville remember, and remained 
there for two years 

November 34, 1847, the first ground was broken for a 
foundry for the manufacture of malleable iron. The business 



26S 



HISTORY OF IM.^•MOL•TlI. 




Andrew Terry. 




W Clark, Sfcrelary. 



ANDREW TERRY AND CO. 269 

was then new to this part of tlie coinitry, and the difficulties to 
be surmounted were very great. 

By his energy and courage the obstacles arising from limited 
capital and inexperience were overcome, and the business was 
established on a paying basis. He continued the same under his 
own name until February 3, iS6o, when a joint stock corpora- 
tion was formed, to which his name was given, and of which he 
continued as president and principal owner until April 26, 1S71, 
when he disposed of his entire interest therein. 

The business is still carried on under the old name of 
A. Terry & Co. 

In 186S, Mr. Terry moved to Waterbuiy, still continuing to 
give his attention to the Terryville business. In the summer of 
1S71, he took up his residence in Lawrence, Kan., where he 
engaged in private banking and real estate operations. Remov- 
ing to Bristol, Conn., in July, 1S75, in connection with G. J. 
Bentley, the enterprise known as the Bristol Foundry Company 
was organized in the summer of 1S76, and Mr. Terry was 
actively engaged in it until his last sickness. From this begin- 
ning has grown the great plant of the Sessions' Foundry Com- 
pany, which is the largest grey iron foundry in New England. 

As a citizen he realized his responsibilities, and tried to 
discharge them faithfully. Upon all questions of public policy 
he held decided opinions, and did not hesitate to express them. 
Office he never cared for. When the civil war broke out he 
gave his time, money, heart, and body to the support of the 
government. He enlisted as a private in Company I, First 
Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and went out as 
orderly sergeant. A severe illness rendered him unfit for duty, 
and he received his discharge, for disability, September 23, 1861. 
On the 5th of October he was commissioned as major ot the 
Eighth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, and was soon pro- 
moted to the lieutenant-colonelcy. He took part in Gen. Burn- 
side's expedition to North Carolina, and participated in the 
capture of Roanoke Island, and in the battle of Newberne. His 
commission was resigned March 28, 1S62. 

In the list of those vmiting with the Congregational Church 
in Terryville, in 1842, occurs the name of Andrew Terry ; he 
was then eighteen years of age. In 1868 he removed his con- 
nection to the Second Congregational Church in Waterbury. 
On his removal to Kansas, he took a letter of recommendation 
to the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence. A 
marked era in his religious life began with the death of his little 
daughter Gertrude. The revival of 1857-58, which brought "all 
Terryville" into the Church, found a most helpful laborer in 
him. At Allentown a mission vSunday School was sustained for 
a considerable time under his superintendency, with very encour- 
aging results. Theological questions then had for him a fasci- 
nating interest; late into the night he would talk with ministers 
and others interested in such thinking His library was well 
selected and well read. Many ministers shared the hospitality 
of his home, and were assisted by him in substantial ways. 



370 



iiis'i()i;\ 01- l•l.^^U)l!^ll. 




N. TavU.r Baldwin. 




O. D. Hunter. 



ANDREW TERRY AND CO. 371 



Among the number were Rev. M. H. Williams, of Philadel- 
phia, and Rev. J. C. McClintocU, of Burlington, Iowa. C. Terry 
Treadway of Bristol, is the only living descendant. 



O. D. HUNTER. 

O. D. Hunter was born in Wendell, Mass., and came to 
Terryville from Greenfield, Mass., in 1850, and was engaged as 
carpenter and joiner by Andrew Terry to eiect a dwelling house 
for him near the iion foundry. Mr. Hunter has spent his whole 
time for the past forty-five years in and around the foundry that 
he is now so prominently identified with. Many of the old 
foundry buildings were built by him, and since the fire of the 
past winter, which wiped out the whole plant, he has taken an 
active part in the construction of new and more modern 
buildings. 

Mr. Hunter has lesided at the old Eli Terry, Sr., place, 
opposite the town hall, for the past thirty years. There is not a 
living representative of those who were piominentlv connected 
with the business when Mr. Hunter came here in 1850. He is 
one of the most active members of the Terryville Congregational 
Church. He married Miss Harriet E. Trask, of Deerfield, 
Mass., October 17, 1853, by whom he has one son, Dr. Dwight 
W. Hunter, of New York. 



HON. N. TAYLOR BALDWIN. 

The Hon. N. Taylor Baldwin was born in Bristol, Conn., 
October 3, 1835, and died in Terryville, March 16, i88g. 

His father, Ezra Baldwin, moved to Winsted when he was 
quite a young boy and there he availed himself of such school 
advantages as Winsted then afibrded. When his school days 
were over he went to Terryville and engaged in clerking in a 
store. In 1864 Mr. Baldwin united with the Congregational 
Church and was an active member and regular attendant He 
took a deep interest in school, town, state and national afiairs, 
and being a good parliamentarian was often called to preside 
over meetings of various kinds. In 1S66, 1873 and 1881 he rep- 
resented the town of Plymouth in the House, and in 1870 the 
Sixteenth district in the Senate. He was a delegate from Con- 
necticut to the convention in Chicago that nominated James A. 
Garfield, and acted as clerk for the state delegates. For manv 
years he was the successful business manager of the A. Terry Si 
Co. Malleable Iron Foundrv, and also a director of the Eagle 
Lock Company, the Bristol Savings Bank, and of North & Judd, 
New Britain. 

His wife was Lucinda Terry, daughter of Eli Terrv, Ji'-i 
and granddaughter of Eli Terry, Sr., the world-renowned clock 
inventor. Mrs. Baldwin died in 1S84. Two children survive, 
Susie, who married Dr. William P. Swett, and Richard D. 
Baldwin. 



2,'!'. 



HISTORY OF PI.VMOUTH. 



Mr. Baldwin was earnest, active and helpful as a citizen in 
all good ways — in the local affairs of school and town and 
church, and in state and national politics, a lasting monnment to 
his memory being the beautiful park, east of the village school- 
house. In 1870 he made a most efficient House chairman 
of the committee on finance. In 1872 he was House chairman 
of the committee on state prison, and in 1881 he was House 
chairman of the committee on banks. While not pretending to 
possess the gift of oratory, he had an easy and effective wav of 
putting things that alwavs made his words influential. And 
there was such implicit faith in his honesty that when he, as 
chairman of a committee, said a bill was right or wrong, that 
settled it so iar as the action of the house was concerned. 
Because of his impartiality and good judgment he was often 
selected by the courts to act as commissioner. 




J. W. Clark's Residence. 





O. U. Huniti's RcsuUh.c. 



CHAPTER XIII 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



Interesting Keading About Past and Present People of Plymouth, Commencing 
with Judge Augustus H. Fenn, Now the Foremost of Those who Reside Else- 
where, and Many Others who Have Attained Worldly Fame— Illustrations of 
Subjects and Buildings. 

AUGUSTUS HALL FENN, one of Plymouth's most prom- 
ising sons, was born in Plymouth, January iS, 1S44. His 
father's name was Augustus L. Fenn, son of Elam Fenn, and 
his mother was Esther Maria Hall, daughter of Orison and 
Betsy Atwater Hall. He received a common school education, 
with one or two terms at higher schools. At the early age of 
fourteen he commenced to write verses for publication, some of 
which were received with favor, going the rounds of the press, 
and the next year he collated and published a small volume of 
poems. In March, 1862, he commenced the study of law in the 
office of Ammi Giddings in Plymouth Center, and in July of the 
same year enlisted in the Nineteenth Connecticut Volunteers. 
Returning in September, 1865, he resumed the study of law in 
the ofHce of S. W. Kellogg in Waterbury. Here he remained 
until February, 1867, when he was admitted to the bar at Litch- 
field. From there he entered the law school of Harvard College 
at Cambridge, Mass., where he remained one year, receiving 
from that institution the degree of LL. B. The next ^ ear he 
practiced law in Waterbury until April i, 1S69, when he 
removed to Plymouth Center, where after a few years' residence 
he went to Winsted and opened a law office. This he continued 
until 1887, when Governor Lounsbury appointed him judge of 
the Superior Court of Connecticut, he at that time being the 
youngest presiding officer of the Connecticut bench. This was 
followed by promotion to the associate judgeship of the Supreme 
Court of Errors of Connecticut by Acting Governor Bulkeley in 
1S93, which office he still holds. 

Judge Fenn is justly proud of his military record, and per- 
haps no better sketch of his services during the rebellion could 
be written than the following which is copied from Vaill's His- 
tory of the Second Connecticut Artillery : 

"The most unpromising officer that left Camp Dutton with 
the old Nineteenth was First Lieutenant Augustus H. Fenn. 



74 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Judge Augustus H. Fenn. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 275 

He was but eighteen years old, of freckled face and awkward 
gait, and was regarded with surly contempt by windy and con- 
sequential brother officers. Every private soldier, too, had his 
fling at him, as it was considered very impudent for him to be 
an officer at all, but he had recruited his forty men, and there he 
was, with a commission in his pocket from Governor Bucking- 
ham. There was no getting away from him, and he was assigned 
to Company K, which was a kind of regimental Botany Bay. 
But three years of fighting blew awa}^ a good deal of showy 
incompetency and revealed true merit wherever it existed. 
Lieutenant Fenn grew in the estimation of his fellow officers and 
of all who knew him, until there was no tongue that dared to 
wag against him. He proved himself one of the best drill 
masters and disciplinarians in the regiment, and one of the most 
competent officers in eveiy position. Before going to the front 
he was made captain of Company C. On the 32d of June he 
led his company into the skirmish at Petersburg as far as it 
advanced, and was then and there detailed A. A. A. General on 
Upton's staft', vice Captain Sanborn of the Fifth Maine, and 
mounting a horse which had been brought to him commenced 
his duties at once. When the regiment left the vSixth Corps at 
Tenallytown in July he was relieved. In September he was 
appointed judge advocate of the division court martial which 
tried twenty-five cases. At Cetlar Creek he lost his right arm. 
The surgeons at Annapolis proposed to mustei- him out for dis- 
ability, but he protested and wrote to General McKenzie for his 
interference. The consequence was that he was retained and in 
less than seven weeks from the time he had an arm taken oft' at 
the shoulder he reported for full duty at the front, and was at 
once detailed as A. A. A. General of the brigade again, which 
detail was afterward changed to that of brigade inspector. He 
sul)sequently participated in several fights. He was detailed as 
judge advocate five difi'erent times, was brevetted major after 
Cedar Creek, promoted major in January, 1S65, brevetted lieu- 
tenant-colonel for Little Sailor Creek, and colonel ' for services 
during the war.' " 

Mr. Fenn, while lie resided in PU mouth, held the offices of 
judge of probate, town clerk, registrar of births, marriages and 
deaths, and justice of the peace. Previously he had been cits- 
clerk of Waterburv, and had been a candidate for town clerk 
there and representative to the legislature, but was defeated. 

Judge Fenn possesses the judicial faculty in a very high 
degree. He takes broad and comprehensive views of legal and 
constitutional questions, and his opinions and conclusions are 
stated with clearness and force. He is a scholar by taste and 
culture, an eloquent speaker, and a careful student of law, and 
has a well defined conception of the nature of the general gov- 
ernment. For some time he has lectured to the law department 
of Yale College. His extensive knowledge of the law, keen dis- 
crimination, and masterlv opinions, have well fitted him for this 
work, and he is held in high regard by students and professors 
alike. 



76 



IIISTOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Homer E. Cook. 




J. W. Pona. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



HOMER E. COOK. 



277 



Homer E. Cook, who was born in VVallingford, Conn., 
June 20, 1S25, came to Terry ville when sixteen years of age, and 
worked in the Eagle Lock Company's factory until 18S7. He 
was tax collector for twenty-one 3'ears but resigned in 1S84, 
owing to ill health. In 1SS4 he represented the town in the 
House of Representatives, receiving many votes from the Demo- 
cratic party besides a full Republican vote. He united with the 
Congregational Ciunch in 1S59. 

He died September 6, 1889, aged sixty-four years. He left 
a widow, Hannah W. Cook, and six children : Mrs. L. C. 
Lord, of Moorhead, Minn. ; W. A. Cook, employed by Eagle 
Lock Company ; O. H. Cook, New Britain, Conn. ; Mrs. A. W. 
Thayer, Palmer, Mass. ; F. T. Cook, druggist, Terry ville. 
Conn. ; Julia F. Cook, Palmer, Mass. Mrs. Lord and Mrs. 
Thayer were for a number of years teachers in the primary 



school here. 



JONATHAN WALTER POND. 



Jonathan Walter Pond was born in the eastern part of 
Plymouth, April 28, 1826, in the house subsequently occupied 
for many years by Alexander Pond. His father, Philip Pond, 
was born in the same house on April 7, 1778. He left Plymouth 
in 1 83 1, and resided in western New York until 1839, when he 
returned to Connecticut and passed the remainder of his life in 
Torrlngton, where he died in January, 18^5. Jonathan W. 
Pond, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a f^irm and 
received the ordinar}^ country school education, supplemented 
by two winter terms of three months each in Torrington Academv. 
When about sixteen years old he went to live in Terryville with 
his brother-in-law, the elder Eli Terry, where he remained about 
three years. Later he went to Bristol and worked at clock 
making, and was for several years foreman of the clock move- 
ment department of Smith & Goodrich, in Forestville. In iS^^ 
he removed to New Haven and was a traveling salesman for 
Chauncey Jerome, then in the clock business. In 1861, he was 
appointed by a non-partisan board of police commissioners, chief 
of the New Haven police department, and through his efforts 
the officers were first put in uniform. He has been engaged in 
the service of civil process in New Haven County as constable 
or deputy sheriff and some of the time in both capacities for 
upwards of thirty years. He was at the same time in the fire 
insurance agency business in New Haven twenty-four years, 
and was for seven years a member of the board of public works 
of New Haven, the two last years serving as president. He is a 
member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New Haven ; also 
of the Order of Free Masons; of the Independent Older of Odd 
Fellows, and was grand master of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows 
of Connecticut in 1S81-2, and represented the grand lodge of 
Connecticut in the sovereign grand lodge (formerlv grand lodge 
of the L^nited States) at its annual session in 1S82 and 1SS3, and 



27S 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Marshall W. Leach. 



>^' 




Jason Clemence 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 279 

is a member of the Connecticut Society of " Tiie Sons of the 
American Revolution." 

He has a wife and two sons, Walter Pond and Philip Pond, 
both graduates of Yale University, both lawyers and residing in 
New Haven. 

MARSHALL \V. LEACH. 

Marshall Welles Leach was born in Torrington, Conn., 
February 17, 1854, ^"*^^ '^'*^ been a resident of Plymouth for 
about twenty-five years. He is a descendant of John Leche, 
who came from England in the fleet with the Rev. Francis 
Higginson in 1639, and Sarah Conant, daughter of Roger 
Conant. He married, December 13, 1S77, Julia S., daughter 
of Strong A. Kelsey. He is an amateur musician of some taste, 
and has always been prominent in musical and literary matters. 
During his twenty-five years here, he has taken a lively interest 
in the aftairs and well-being of the community. He is a member 
of the Congregational Church, in which he fills the offices of 
clerk and committeeman. He is also a grand juror, justice of 
the peace, and a prominent member of the board of school 
visitors. He is also an Odd Fellow. 

JASON CLEMENCE. 

Jason Clemence, who is now seventy-seven years old, was 
born in Torrington, this State. He came to Terryville in 1S40, 
to work for H. VVelton & Co., the clock makers, in the factory 
where the "Upper" lock shop now stands. This concern made 
wooden clocks but later commenced the manufacture of brass 
time pieces. In this they were restrained by Chauncey Jerome, 
of New Haven, who claimed they infringed on his patent. Eli 
Terry was then appealed to, to invent a movement that tlie 
Welton concern could make. This he did, and Mr. Clemence 
was set to work to make the model. Uncle Eli would watch the 
progress of his new clock and tell Mr. Clemence as he looked in 
that he came to "respect" his work. These clocks were made 
until the company failed, when as the last work was being done 
upon them in one end of the building, Lewis & Gaylord began 
the manufacture of locks in the other end. From clocks to locks 
(simply dropping the c) Mr. Clemence changed and he has 
followed the trade in Tcrrvville ever since. 

He was married to Mary Johnson, September 28, 1842, 
who died June 11, 18^6, to whom was born one son, Edwin, in 
1847. His present wife was Harriet C. Woodworth, to whom 
he was married June 6, 1877- 

Mr. Clemence for over thirty years was usher in the Terry- 
ville Congregational Church and served as funeral director a like 
number of years. He has been called upon to watch with the 
sick time upon time, and during the terrible epidemic about 
1S42, watched constantly for six months. His services were 
always given freely both as watcher and funeral director, and on 
only few occasions did he accept anv compensation. 



2So 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Augustus Von Martensen. 




Mrs. Rosina Martensen 



BIOGHAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2S1 

TERRYVILLE's first GERMAN FAMILY. 

The first German family to move into Teiryville was that ol 
Johann Peter Scheuing. i'his was brought about by Andrew 
Terry, who made periodical trips to New York to hire emigrants 
to work in his foundry, as but few if any of the local residents 
understood the art of iron moulding. This was in 1850. 
Mr. Scheuing took up his residence in the double house known 
as the Captain Bunnell place, where his wife kept a boarding 
house for other emigrant employes. Their son, Louis, was the 
first child born of German parents in the village. 

Mr. Scheuing, born in Halle, Wurtemburg, Germany, 1S22, 
came to America in 1847, enlisted private in United States Army 
from Governor's Island, N. Y., April 13, 1847, saw active ser- 
vice in Mexican War, and after terrible sufiering and hardships 
his health was shattered, and on the r5th of October, 184S, at 
New Orleans, he received an honorable discharge. He returned 
to Germany to recover his health and the next year married 
Rosina Seitz, returned to America and after some months' resi- 
dence in New York City, came to Terryville. His health, how- 
ever, had been completely undermined, and after a shoit 
residence he was allowed to enter the hospital at Blackwell's 
Island, N. Y., where he died August 14, 1S54, aged thirty-two 
years, leaving a widow, two sons and a daughter. By keepmg 
boarders the widow had managed to keep the wolf from the door 
until March 29, 1855, when she became the wife of Augustus 
Von Martensen, who was born in Kiel, Denmark, May 5, 1822, 
of a distinguished family. When a boy he was sent to the best 
schools and became a fine linguist. His parents wished him to 
study medicine but he entered the German army, won several 
medals for proficiency, finally participated in the revolution ot 
Schleswig Holstein and with many others of his co-patiiots 
escaped to America. Having friends in Bristol he visited them 
and shortly after found employment at the lock factory at Terry- 
ville, where he was employed six years, incidentally giving 
German lessons and teaching fencing as opportunity offered. 
When the war of the rebellion commenced Mr. Von Martensen 
went to Waterburv to enlist and though the company had then a 
full quota of men, the captain, attracted by his soldierly bearing, 
gladlv enrolled him in the ranks. This company was a part of 
the ist Connecticut three months' Volunteers, enlisting April 22, 
1S61, and mustering out July 31, 1861. They participated in 
the disastrous first battle of "Bull Run after the term of their 
enlistment had expired. Mr. Martensen was the first man in 
Plymouth to enlist, and A. M. Blakesley, cashier of the Water- 
bury bank, a native of Terryville, presented him with a handsome 
revolver in recognition of his patriotism. Upon his return, after 
a few days spent with his family, in August 1861, he re-enlisted 
for three years at Hartford as a corporal in the cavalry service, 
and with other Connecticut men (and among them was Dorence 
Atwater, of Terrvville), they were attached to the 3d New York 
Cavalrv, Colonel jiulson Kilpatrick's regiment, afterward called 



282 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Louis C. Scheuinf 




Julius G. Bedcli. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 283 

the Harris Light Cavalry, and became a part of McCleUan's 
Army of the Potomac. In this service he saw^ daily skirmishing 
and fighting, participated in several battles and was promoted to 
a 2d lieutenantcy. At Aldie, Va., the advancing army came 
upon some rebel sharpshooters lying behind haystacks. His 
company were ordered to dislodge them, and in the charge ist 
Lieutenant Whitaker and 2d Lieutenant Martensen were both 
fatally shot from their horses, and lived but a few hours. The 
bodies were brought to Hartford by General Whitaker, and the 
body of Lieutenant Martensen was given honorable burial in 
Terryville ; funeral services were held at the church and attended 
by a large concourse of sympathetic townspeople, the late Rev. 
Dr. Griggs officiating. 

Mrs. Rosina Martensen was a widow a second time with a 
family of six children, the youngest barely three years old, the 
oldest but thirteen years. She was left destitute, but with a 
courage born of despair, she labored early and late to support 
and educate them. They grew up to be a credit to their 
mother's devotion and fortitude. The eldest son, William 
Scheuing, removed from Terryville to Kansas in 1S70, engaged 
in farming until iSSS, his health failing he went to Florida and 
afterwards to Colorado. The second son, Louis C. Scheuing, 
left Terryville for Waterbury, Conn., in 1S66, where he spent a 
few months in a store as clerk, then worked on a farm and went 
to school winters at Northfield, and after another year's exper- 
ience in a store in Waterbury, removed to Springfield, Mass., 
where after working at farming and in the freight office of the 
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. for nine years, the opportunity was 
offered to enter a manufacturing enterprise. He is now secretary 
of the National Papeterie Company, a director in several other 
enterprises, extensively engaged in real estate, and is closely 
identified with religious work and in musical circles. In 
the year 1875 he induced his mother, brother, and sisters to 
remove to Springfield, where with the exception of the eldest 
son William (who died in Colorado in 1S91 and is buried in 
Springfield) the children are all living at present, pleasantly 
and happily located. Louis Is unmarried and resides with his 
mother; Mary Scheuing is the wife of F. P. Cheever, of 
Springfield; Augusta Martensen is the wife of O. B. Brockett, 
messenger of the County Court House ; Carl F. Martensen is 
married, and agent for the Boston Condensed Milk Company, 
for Springfield and vicinity ; Rosa Martensen is unmarried, and 
clerk in Register of Deeds office, and resides with her mother. 

Mrs. Martensen is still in the enjoyment of good health, 
conscious that she did what she could for her country in its hour 
of need, and feels grateful to the people of Terryville for the 
many acts of kindness and assistance rendered her. 

JULIUS G. BEACH. 

One of the old carriage makers that the old residents will 
recall was Lyman Beach, who was born in Plymouth, April 3, 
1S07. Of his early life the writer has little knowledge. On 



.S4 



HISTORV OF PI^YlMOU'l'II. 




James. Huntt 




J. B. BalJwiii. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 285 

September 4, 1S32, he was united in marriage to Phebe Griggs, 
to whom were born four children, Hobart L., Calvin D., Celia 
A., and Julius G. His homestead was situated on the road 
going north by the Andrew Hawkins place and the first house 
above the Hawkins homestead. He was a carriage wood worker 
and was employed by Cooley & Bradley — Comstock & Bishop 
succeeded Cooley & Bradley- — and he continued in their employ. 
September S, 1S4S, his wife died. The family remained at the 
old home, a housekeeper being employed, and in the spring of 
1850 Mr. Beach married for his second wife Lucinda Comstock. 
On May 15, 185 1, after a long and painful illness, he died, and 
the old home was sold to Isaac Shelton. 

The son, Julius G., was about eleven years old when this 
occurred and from that time until he arrived at the age of twenty 
drifted from one occupation to another, some of the time on a 
farm, one voyage to sea (China) and two years or more in the 
factory. In the spring of 1861, when he was twentv, the civil 
w'ar broke out. He responded to the call, going to the front 
wich the 2d Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, three months' 
troops. When this term of service expired he enlisted in Com- 
pany F, 7th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, serving until the 
close of the war, was mustered out as ist sergeant, and shortly 
afterwards received an honorary commission from the governor. 
In 1864, while home on a veteran furlough, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Anna M. Mills, a New Haven lady, and after 
his discharge from the army, up to the present time, has resided 
in New Haven, and for the past twentv-eight years has been in 
the employ of Peck Bros. & Co., and for the past fifteen years 
holding the position of foreman of a department with prospects 
of remaining. 

JAMES HUNTER. 

James Hunter was born in Glenluce, Scotland, October 3, 
1S12, the eldest of nine children. He was brought up by his 
maternal grandfather, James Hanna, at Stranraer, in the south- 
west extremity of that country. This grandfather had acquired 
a competence as a planter in Jamaica. His paternal grandfather 
resided at Girvan, thirty miles distant from Stranraer The 
calling of this grandfather was that of a stone mason. He ful- 
filled in his home, at the close of each day, the description in 
Burns' exquisite poem, "The Cotter's Saturday Night," — 

'•'The siie turns o'er \vi' patriarchal grace. 

The big ha' Bible (hall Bible) ance his father's pride ; 

* * * * o * * 

He wales (selects) a portion with judicious care, 

And, ' Let us worship God,' he says, with solemn air." 

The home at Stranraer was a stone house of two stories, 
with a slate roof. The floor of the hall, whicli extended through 
the house, and that of the kitchen, were flagged with stone. 
The sea was only a few rods awav. His parents having emi- 
grated to Canada some years before, in 1829 the son followed 



ZS6 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

them. Mr. Hunter accompanied them in a subsequent removal 
to the United States. They found a home in Saratoga, N. Y. 
From that place the son started out to seek labor and subsistence 
for himself. And so it was that, as he journeyed afoot into 
Massachusetts and Connecticut, he came at length, bundle in 
hand, to Terry ville. This was in 1S34. 'l'^^ ^''^'^ person he 
saw and spoke with was a little girl about four years of age, the 
daughter of Eli Terry, Jr., who was playing in the road in front 
of the house. She is now Mrs. Merrill Richardson. She 
directed him to her father's clock shop just below. Going into 
the shop he met Warren Goodwin. jMr. Terry was absent. 
While waiting for the return of Mr. Terry, in the lack of a 
tavern nearer than Plymouth, Mr. Goodwin took him home with 
himself, and he spent the first night in Terryville in the house 
which afterwards became his own home for many years, and in 
which at last he departed this life. Mr. Terry did not hire him, 
and he applied ibr employment at the lock shop just started, the 
proprietors of which were John C. Lewis and Wm. E McKee. 
He found Mr. McKee in his garden, who asked him many 
questions, and then conducted him to the shop where he had an 
interview with Mr. Lewis also, which was continued at the 
village stoi'e belonging to the same concern. After the proprie- 
tors had consulted aside, Mr. Lewis said to him thev wanted to 
hire men, but oidy such men as would be a help in the com- 
munitv. good citizens to build up the community. Thereupon 
Mr. Hunter produced his church certificate issued to him bv his 
pastor. Rev. Wm. Taylor, pastor of the First United Secession 
Church of Montreal. That was sufficient. They hiied him for 
a year at $100 and board. The price of board was then about 
$1.^0 a week. The firm settled with their help at the end of the 
vear. jMeanwdiile it was difficult to get much money from them 
at a time. While thev used no compulsion upon their hands to 
trade at their store, they wished them to do so, engaging to 
furnish goods as cheap and of as good qualitv as could be 
obtained anywhere. The first Sabbath Mr. Hunter began the 
])ractice always maintained, of attendance at church, walking in 
those days, as did many others, to Plymouth. At the same 
time he joined the Bible class taught (probablv) by Dr. Potter. 

Becoming thus a resident of Terryville, Mr. Hunter con- 
tinued such until the end of his long, useful and happv life, with 
the exception of the ]:)eriod from 1S43 to 1S56, during which his 
home was in Sharon, Conn. 

He married, Octol^er 18, 1S37, ^I'^s Rhoda Swift, grand- 
daughter of General Heman vSwift of Revolutionarv fame, and 
of the seventh generation from William Swift, who settled at 
Wateitown, Mass.. 1630. Their children were Swift McGregor, 
born in Sharon. Conn., December i, 1S38; Mnrv Elizabeth, 
born in Sharon, Conn., Mav 19, 1S42 ; Elizabeth Swift, born in 
Sharon, Conn., March 28, 1S44. 

Swift jNIcG. was married January i, 1868, to ]Mary M. Swift, 
who died November i^, 1871. He was a volunteer soldier in 
the war for the Union, being a member of the 3d Connecticut 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 287 

Regiment of Heavy Artillery, in which service he received a 
wound, resulting at last in his death, after a lingering illness, in 
1S72. Two daughters of Swift McG. Hunter reside in Terry- 
ville. The elder daughter of James Himter is the wife of 
Charles vS. Smith, of East Plymouth. The younger daughter 
died April 5, 1866. 

Mr. Hunter was one of the original members of the Congre- 
gational Church of Terry ville, organized in 1838, joining by 
letter from the church ol Plymouth. He was a member of the 
standing committee of the ciiurch for many years, and for five 
years was superintendent of the Sunday School. The high 
regard in which he was held by his fellow citizens, and the con- 
fidence they reposed in him is manifest in the fact that he was 
many times elected to the responsible offices of grand juror and 
justice of the peace. He died April i, 1891, his wife surviving 
him. She died June 25, 1S95. 

True to his early training, James Hunter was always a man 
of integrity, a supporter and an advocate of good things, espec- 
ially of the cause of temperance. Of imquestionable piety, most 
impressive, sometimes sublime, in prayer, he was also of a 
remarkably merry disposition. Recollections of his droll humoi', 
uttered in the brogue of Scotland, and breaking forth from his 
familiar countenance all aglow with merriment, will long lecur 
with cheering- etlect to those who knew him. 



JAMES BURGESS BALD\VIN. 

James Burgess Baldwin was born September 14, 1S46, just 
outside the limits of Goshen, Conn., and ever regarded Goshen 
as his native town. He was the son of Junius and Julia 
(Hallock) Baldwin. He was also, it may be truly said, a 
typical son of New England and of Connecticut. For he had 
an honorable pritle in the region of his birth, her people and her 
traditions. And he was endowed by nature with that aptitude 
for mechanic art which, difiused among the ]Deople of Connecti- 
cut, has given the state leadership in the Union in inventive 
production, dotting her ten itory in generations gone with the 
little shops of local artisans, and through the growth and the 
massing of capital creating in later times the great manufactories 
existing in such numbers, and pouring out such a variety of 
articles of use and of beauty at the present day. The popular 
vehicle known as the spindle buggy, was first made by Mr. 
Baldwin. The idea originating with him was taken up by 
others, and lias become a source of profit to many. Possessed 
also of the artistic sense and skill, he found pleasure in painting 
pictures which he produced with facility for his own gratifica- 
tion and that of his friends, and sometimes to meet the demands 
of his business. 

Mr. Baldwin became a resident of Terry ville in 1876, 
locating here to prosecute his calling of general blacksmithing. 
In addition to other qualifications for this employment, he was 
marked to an unusual degree by an intelligent interest in that 



^8S 



iiisroKV CK I•J.^^M()u rn. 




Georiie H. Plumb. 



/■' 




\m ^- 


■3 


i' ' 


1 
«■ 


^>^ ^' 


.'^- 




i 



Gaiub Feiin Warner. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3S9 

noble animal, the horse, and by judgment in the treatment of the 
same. Relinquishing after some years the heavier work of his 
trade, Mr. Baldwin was occupied subsec|uently with the manu- 
facture and repair of vehicles, and with the i)ublic duties devolv- 
ing upon him as a civil officer. He was appointed postmaster 
of Terryville by President Harrison in 1S90, antl held the 
appointment at the time when he was smitten with i'atal sickness. 
His administration of this responsible office met with the general 
approval of the community. 

A faithful and active member of the Congregational Church 
of Terryville, he was for seven years superintendent of its large 
and flourishing Sunday School, concerning which it should be 
said, that for vigor and usefulness as an auxiliary in the work of 
the church, the Sunday School of Terryville is surpassed 
probably by but few similar institutions in corresponding com- 
munities in the land. 

Mr. Baldwin was married, May 7, 1S68, to Martha Eugenia, 
youngest daughter of George Merriman, of Litchfield, Conn., 
a lady of uncommon sweetness and beauty of disposition and 
character. Children were born to them as follows : Carlisle 
Hodges, born in Torrington, Conn., June 35, 1S70; Ralph 
Merriman, born in Torrington, Conn., June 17, 1S74; Ernest 
Elmore, born in Torrington, Conn., November 11, 1S75 ; all of 
whom survive their parents. Two of the sons occupy positions 
of responsibility in the office of the Eagle Lock Company, 
Terryville, the eldest as estimate clerk, and the youngest as pay- 
master. The second son is perfecting himself as an instructor in 
penmanship, thus developing an inherited artistic taste and skill. 

The death of Mr. Baldwin was attended with circumstances 
investing it with an extremely pathetic and tragic interest. 
The father of Mrs. Baldwin, passing the winter in the home, 
having reached the age of ninety-four years, was taken sick and 
died February 19, 1S94. While he was yet ill, fatal disease 
fastened upon his daughter. The prostration of the wife was 
soon followed by that of her husband. Air. Baldwin. She died 
February 3i ; five days later he departed this life, February 36, 
1S94. Husband and wife were buried in one grave. 

Mr. Baldwin was a man of vivacious spirit, cheerful and 
cordial, affectionate in his relations to his family, patriotic in his 
regard for his country, a warm co-worker in matters of public 
interest, both religious and secular, a citizen respected and 
valued, a pleasant and beloved friend. 

GEORGE H. PLUMB. 

George H. Plumb, son of Samuel and Sarah Scarritt Plumb, 
was born in Wolcott, Conn., October 15, 1S13, died in Terry- 
ville, August iS, 1S91. 

In his early life he traveled extensively in the Southern 
States and was one of the "Yankee clock peddlers" who earned 
Connecticut a reputation for shrewdness and who were known 
throughout the country more than half a century ago. On each 



290 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

trip he took with him a wagon load of clocks from Plymouth 
where they were then manufactured, retailing them in exchange 
for cash or whatever he could get in the line of produce. 
Though possessing the shrewdness of the typical "Yankee 
clock peddler," he was a man of sterling honesty and was highly 
respected in the place where he spent the greater part of his life. 

He was married May 3, 1S40, to Deidamia Minor, of 
Wolcott, by whom he had three children, Newell M., Wallace 
G., and Elsie J. Plumb, the only surviving one being Wallace 
G. Plumb. He moved to Terry ville in January, 1S41, to work 
for H. Welton & Co., in the clock shop, where he was employed 
until his health failed, when he removed to his farm on Fall 
Mountain in the town of Bristol. He lived there ten years, 
afterwards returning to Terryville where he resided until his 
death. 

He was a contractor in the Eagle Lock Co, for fifteen years, 
being associated with Ira H. Stoughton. He joined the Con- 
gregational Church in 1842, and was an active worker, serving 
on the stantling committee until compelled by old age to retire 
from the service. Mr. and Mrs, Plumb celebrated their golden 
wedding May 3, 1S90. 

GAIUS FENN WARNER. 

John Warner, who was captain in the Connecticut State 
Guards — assisting in the defense of the sea coasts in General 
Waterbury's State Brigade in 17S1, and for whom the long hill 
between Plvmouth and the township now known as Thomaston, 
was for many years named, was the father of John Warner, Jr., 
grandfather of Abijah Warner and great-grandfather of Gains 
Fenn Warner, who was born in the town of Plymouth in that 
part known as Town Hill in iSii; his mother, Betsy Fenn, 
being a sister of Elam Fenn, who lived and died where his son 
Jason Fenn now lives. He was the youngest of three children, 
but six years of age when his father died. His boyhood and 
early manhood were passed in his mother's home, until when at 
the age of twenty-one he married Harriet Jackson, of Bethlehem, 
Conn., and directly they settled in their own home, near that of 
his mother, a little to the south on the same road. Here he 
worked a small farm for about three vears, when he moved to 
Waterville, to take charge of a large boarding house for the 
emploves of a button factory there. 

His two daughters, Helen and Harriet, were born during 
his residence in Plymouth, his son, Henry, in Waterville. 
During the two years of the boarding house experiment, he built 
for himself a commodious house, into which he moved, when he 
again took up a small farm and also had charge of the turn- 
pike road between Waterbury and Plymouth, but evidently, 
farming was not to his mind, for in 1843 he went back to the 
town of Plymouth, the eastern part of it, called Terryville. 
Here he kept a temperance hotel, a novel idea at that time, but 
which he maintained in spite of all opposition, at the same time 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 39I 

carrying on, in an extended ell of his house, the manufacture of 
umbrellas. It was during these years that the Congregational 
Church was built in the village, and into this enterprise he threw 
his superb energies and strength. He hauled much of the timber 
from the woods to the mill, from there to the lot whereon the 
church was to be erected, and was like a young giant on the 
"Raising Day" of the building when "all the town" turned out 
to help ; afterwards all were served, as was the custom of the 
day, to doughnuts, raised cake and cider. 

It was not until about the year 1847 ^'^^^ '^^ found his busi- 
ness life-work, when at his entertainment at his house as hotel, 
he met a man who was in the manufacturing business of mallea- 
ble iron castings, and who so urged him to also enter this work, 
that at last he decided to return with him to Straitsville and 
investigate for himself. He soon moved his family there, where 
he so well succeeded, that when the buildings were burned to 
the ground, he removed the works to New Haven, many of the 
principal workmen going with him. At that time, Straitsville, 
a very small village, had no regular church services, which 
Mr. Warner so deplored, that very soon after his removal there 
he made arrangements whereby theological students from New 
Haven should preach in the small chapel each Sunday for the 
sum of ten dollars and their board. His house was freely opened 
for their accommodation, and very often the compensation was 
also largely given from his own pocket. In this iron business he 
had the monopoly and made it the largest concern of its kind in 
the country. As he grew in prosperity, he was ever ready to 
respond to the numerous calls for benevolence, both public and 
private, notably of them was that of Home and Foreign 
Missions, that of Home Missions growing stronger each year of 
his life. He was a man of few words — while ever friendly — to 
those who were so fortunate as to possess his love and confidence, 
he showed a true and loyal heart, to be relied upon in any 
extremity. In his family he was the faithful husband, the 
kindest of fathers, and his house was ever open to all his friends. 
In the year 18S0 he decided to build a house for himself, and 
chose a lot of one and one-half acres in the center of the city 
opposite Yale College, where he erected the substantial house, 
now occupied as the Republican League building, in the rear of 
which is now the Hyperion Theatre, and on the western side of 
the lot Warner Hall and the apartment building for students, 
erected and managed by his son Henry A. Warner. 

It was characteristic of him, when questioned quite 
anxiously by a member of the college faculty, as to his venture 
to so carefully lay out this acre and more of ground, stocking it 
with fruit trees, graperies, and ornamental shrubs, lest he should 
sufter from tlie invasion of the mischievous boys of the college, 
he replied "I shall not molest them and I don't think they will 
trouble me," and they never did. After moving to his new 
home, he gave his best Christian efforts to the welfare of the 
College Street Church, which building joined his land on the 
eastern side, and was an earnest helper and exemplary member 



293 



HISIORV OF PLYMOUTH. 




Junius Preston. 




Hi'nr\' A. Minor. 



BIOGFtAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



^93 



until his death in October, 1S90. He died as he had lived, in 
full trust and faith in his Savior and God, since when in his early 
manhood, he with his young wife united with the church in 
Plymouth Center, during a strong religious movement through- 
out the country in 1S37. 

MR. AND MRS. JUNIUS PRESTON. 

Junius Preston and wife, who live near East Church, are 
probably the oldest couple in Plymouth, they having passed 
sixty years of married life together, fifty of which has been spent 
in the house where they now reside. Mr. Preston is eighty-three 
years old and Mrs. Preston is seventy-eight. They are still 
active and do their own f;irm work. Mr. Preston in early life 
was the owner of the grist mill in East Church, which he con- 
ducted for ten years, but was better known as the sexton of the 
old graveyard. This he attended to for forty-two years, filling 
the place made vacant by his father, who was in charge twenty- 
four years, making a total of sixty-six years that it was looked 
after by father and son. Three children were born to them, 
Mrs. Wallace Pardee, who lives near by ; Mrs. A. J. Hotchkiss, 
of Middletown ; and Almeron Preston, of New Britain. 
Mr. Preston has not been out of the State in fift}^ years, or away 
from home over night in all that time. He has patronized the 
steam railroads but little, and has never seen or ridden on an 
electric car. 

HENRY A. MINOR. 

Henry A. Minor, son of Plenry J. Minor, of Woodbury, 
Conn., and Nancy J. Mather, of Plymouth, was born in Ply- 
mouth, April 15, 1843, and educated at Williston Seminary, 
Easthampton, Mass. He married Anna L. Woodford, of Avon, 
Conn., October 14, 1S74, and has two children, Maurice W., 
born April T,, 187S, and Judson M., born July 6, 1SS2. His 
wife died March 6, 1891. He was employed with the Seth 
Thomas Clock Company three years and the New Haven Clock 
Company two years. He then entered the employ of the New 
York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, where he is 
still employed in the accoimting department of the general office. 

EMMA J. MINOR. 

Emma J. Minor, a sister of Kenry A. Minor, was born 
October 19, 184S, was educated in Hartford at T. W. T. Curtis's 
Young Ladies' Seminary, and married, June 3, 1868, to George 
T. Bradley, of the firm of Benedict & Co., coal merchants. New 
Haven. Their children are Milton Hobert, born April 8, 1S71 ; 
Walter Minor, born April 14, 1S73; Mabel Daskam, born 
August 13, 187S. 

JEREMIAH MARKHAM. 

Jeremiah Markham, the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Enfield, Conn., January 20, 1734. He w\is the son of Jeremiah 



294 HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 

and Sarah (Meacham) ]\Iarkham, his father being the grandson 
of Deacon Daniel jMarkham, a brother of the Mayor (1664) of 
Norwich, County Norfolk, England. The deacon arrived in 
Cambridge in 1665, and in Middletown, Conn., in 1676, wliere 
he received the greater part of the estate of his father-in-law^, 
William Harris, while the latter went to England in behalf of 
the Colony of Connecticut, as agent for a charter. 

On this estate generations were born and raised, Jeremiah 
being brought to it when only five years of age. Here he learned 
his trade of blacksmith, and here were all his children born. 
Amy married John Driggs of ISIiddletown, and died in Peru, 
Mass., they had five daughters; Jeremiah learned his father's 
trade and bought back the shop at JVIiddletown, he had married 
Sally Clark and they had seven children, six sons and one 
daughter ; Hester married Obadiah Bowe ; John married 
Almira Holly, aunt of " Josiah Allen's wife," and had five 
children, three sons and two daughters ; of Levi's children, 
Maria married Willard Brooks, whose sons, Silas and George 
became celebrated as aeronauts ; Nancy married Capt. Mark J. 
Bronson ; Apollos married Lucy C. Griswold, daughter of Capt. 
Francis Griswold, and was surveyor for Litchfield County for 
some years ; Levi D. married Eliza M. Lackey ; Rhoda married 
Daniel Potter of Plymouth ; Sarah married Levi Scott and had 
two sons, Riley and Markham Scott ; Lydia married Luther 
Downs and went to Armenia, N. Y. 

In 1797 he had purchased two hundred acres of land in the 
wild west of Connecticut, being the grant to Rev. Ichabod Camp, 
in payment for services as chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, 
and in this year he went there to live, and built a blacksmith's 
shop. He is said to have forged knife blades equal to the 
English. To this tract were added two hundred acres by son 
and grandson, so that the homestead comprised at one time four 
hundred acres of rugged land in the southern part of Plymouth. 
The original house in which Jeremiah lived and died is still 
standing on the Waterbury road on the southwest corner of the 
lane, leading to the site of another house to the west, there being 
until recently still another to the south on the same lot, and to 
one of these, the eldest son, Jeremiah, Jr., removed two years 
later with his wife and two very young children, John and 
Oliver. 'Tis said these baby boys were slung one on either side 
of a horse in a saddle bag and followed the family procession 
from Middletown to Plymouth, whiling away the time by an" us- 
ing themselves, tickling each other with a straw over the back of 
the animal. 

Jeremiah, Jr., in about a vear removed back to the Middle- 
town homestead and the Plymouth estate came into the posses- 
sion of the son Levi, and John went to the "Black River 
Country." Levi married, January 11, 1S04, Rosanna Rowe, 
and they had five children born at the old homestead, Afaria, 
Nancy, Lucy R., Apollos (for a time surveyor for the town), 
and Levi Deming, whose family still retains the Ichabod Camp 
property. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 295 

On a visit to this house a few years ago, the writer found 
some of the spoils from the "Indian Wars," some of which were 
adorned by Indian artists, handed down by Sergeant Jeremiah to 
his children, and also accounts and pension papers, showing 
that Sergeant Markham acted as captain, and led the company 
of Captain Joseph Blague in the second battle of Saratoga, 
October 7, 1777, during which he was shot through the head 
just as they were leaping over the British breastworks (vide 
Walworth's Battles of Saratoga). Captain Blague was then in 
the hospital suffering from wounds received in the first battle, 
during which this company had especially distinguished itself, 
and Blague soon received a sword from General Washington, 
with a commission of Colonel. 



DR. RALPH SCHUYLER GOODWIN. 

Ralph Schuyler Goodwin, of Tnomaston, Conn., son of 
Charles and Jane (Guilford) Goodwin, was born July 24, 1839, 
at Litchfield, Conn. He is the grandson of Uri Goodwin, a 
descendant of Ozias Goodwin, one of Thomas Hooker's band of 
pioneer settlers of Hartford, Conn. He received his high school 
education at Watertown Academy, Waterbury Academy, Bing- 
hampton, N. Y., Academy, and the New York State Normal 
School, from which he was graduated; commenced the study of 
medicine at Binghamton, N. Y., in 1862, under Dr. Burr, of 
Binghamton, Drs. Enos and Conklin, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and 
Dr. A. S. Hunter, of New York City ; attended three courses of 
medical lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
New York, and the Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, 
N Y., and was graduated from the former in 1S66; commenced 
the practice of medicine in 1867, at Plymouth Center and later 
removed to Thomaston, Conn., where he has since remained. 
He is a member of the Litchfield County jVIedical Society, of 
which he has been president ; Connecticut Medical Society ; 
American Medical Association ; and the American Public 
Health Association. He has been a member of the Connecticut 
State Board of Health eight years, as well as health officer of 
Thomaston, Conn. He is an Odd Fellow; member of Thomas- 
ton Board of Education; acting school visitor of Thomaston, ten 
years ; and member of Congregational Church. Dr. Goodwin 
was for three years an instructor in the Collegiate and Poly- 
technic Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y. Among his more important 
medical papers are: "The Contagiousness of Tuberculosis," 
read before the County Medical Society, 1892; "The Thera- 
peutic Use of Alcohol," published in transactions State Medical 
Society, 1879; "The Etiology and Prophylaxis of Typhoid 
Fever," read before the County Medical Society, 1889; an 
address as chairman of section on therapeutics, at centennial 
anniversary of the State Medical Society, 1892 ; "Characteristics 
of Modern Therapeutibs." 

Married, 1867, Miss Jeanie Edith Irvine, of New York 
City. They have two children : Ralph Schuyler Goodwin, Jr., 



296 



HISTORY OF Pi.VMOL T'J 




Dr. R. S. Gooiwin 




Dr. S. T. Salisburv. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 397 

a graduate at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New 
York, and Grace Goodwin, educated at Vassar College. 

DR. SAMUEL T. SALISBURY. 

Dr. Samuel T. Salisbury, of whom an excellent likeness is 
given herewith, was boi-n at Providence, R. I., March 17, 1S14. 
He was of mixed English and Welsh stock, and among the 
ancestral names were those of Owen, Dexter, Thurber, and 
Salisbury. He early developed a taste for study — was a pupil in 
the schools of his native city and Brown University. Alter 
finishing his academic studies, lie adopted medicine as his chosen 
profession — first as a botanic student and practitioner. He soon 
became dissatisfied with the limited range of this school, and 
resolved to adopt the allopathic. In 1834, he entered the office 
of that distinguished physician and teacher. Dr. Ciiarles Hooker, 
of New Haven, attending lectures in the Medical Institution of 
Yale College, and graduated therefrom in 1836. The year of 
his graduation, he married Miss Harriet Fenn, of Plymouth, 
Conn, (where he had settled in practice), by whom he had two 
daughters, both of whom died in 1848. Mrs. Salisbury died 
two years subsequently, thus leaving him without family. In 
1S52, he married Miss Amelia P. Moss, of Cheshire, Conn., by 
whom he had three sons. Dr. Salisbury was a lover of his pro- 
fession^he practiced medicine irom the love of it. With him it 
was something more lofty and ennobling than the means of 
acquiring a livelihood. It was a sacred calling, enlisting all his 
sympathies, and to it he consecrated his best energies. Though 
his professional life was a busy one, yet he was a man of pul>lic 
spirit, and found time to take an active interest in public affairs, 
representing the town in the State legislature and as selectman. 
About 1S70, gradually failing health required him to relinquish 
his practice to a certain extent, svmptoms of that insidious but 
surelv fiital disease, locomotor-ataxia, manifested themselves. 
Ordinarv remedies and a protracted sojourn in a southern climate 
failed to give more than a temporary relief, the disease culminat- 
ing fatally, March i, 1874. 

DR. FRANKI-IN J. WHITTEMORE. 

Dr. Franklin J. Whittemore was born in Washington, 
Mass., January 15, 1828. He was the son of Amos Whittemore, 
of Middlefield, Mass., and his mother was Clarissa Hamilton, of 
Chester, Mass. He was educated at Easthampton and studied 
medicine in the New York University, graduating in 1S51, 
He settled at once in Plymouth and in October, 1851, married 
Fallah Terrv, daughter of Eli Terry, Jr., of Terryville. They 
had four children, Frank Hamilton, William Richardson, Clara 
and Lily. Mrs. Whittemore died in April, 1864. 

Dr. Whittemore practiced medicine in Plymouth for several 
years, gaining a wide reputation in the surrounding country as a 
most successful practitioner, and was much beloved by all there. 



29S 



IllSIOnV OF ]'L\.MOL'lU. 




Dr. F. J. Whittemore. 




Dr C- W, Bull 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 299 

He was at different times elected to prominent offices in the 
town. He removed to New Haven, Conn., in May, iS6S, 
where for fifteen years he had a hirge and hiciative practice. 
He was Surgeon General of the State on Governor Jewell's stati, 
and since 1SS3 has resided in Clyde, Ohio. 

His oldest son, Frank Hamilton, was born July 6, 1S54, and 
was educated at Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven. 
He studied medicine and graduated from the Bellevue Hospital 
Medical College in 1S75, and after a few months study abroad, 
was appointed physician to the Jersey City Charity Hospital, 
where he remained two years, then returned to New Haven, and 
has become one of the leading physicians of the city. He married 
in 1S76, Millie, youngest daughter of Mrs. Isaac T. Rogers, of 
Milford, Conn. Thev have one son, Edward Reed. 



DR. C. W. BUI-L. 

Cornelius Wade Bull, a son of Jabez and Mary Ford Bull, 
was born at Tallahassee, Fla., April 8, 1839. -^^ ^^^ graduated 
from Yale College, 1S63. After graduation he commenced the 
study of medicine at the Yale Medical School, but in the follow- 
ing spring gave up his studies and joined the United States 
Navy as acting assistant paymaster, being assigned to the Missis- 
sippi Squadron. He continued in this service until August, 
1S65, when he returned to New Haven and completed his 
medical course, graduating in 1S67. He then became resident 
physician at the State Hospital remaining there until April, 
1 868, wlien he entered actively in the practice of medicine at 
Terryville. Too strict application to his duties injured his 
health and he was compelled to give up his practice in April, 
1872. He died May 19, 1876. 

He was married August 16, 1869, to Alice, daughter of 
Porter Sanford. They had one son, Cornelius Sanford (Yale '93.) 



SARAH E. TOLLES PLUMB. 

Sarah E. Tolles Plumb was born October 24, 1837, ^'"^ ^^^^ 
part of Plymouth known as AUentown, near Tolles Station on 
the New York and New England Railroad. Her father was 
Captain Zenas Tolles, a well known and prosperous farmer, and 
for many years identified with the militia interests of the State. 
His ancestors for several generations were residents of Plymouth. 
Her mother was Nancy Holt, a daughter of Daniel and Nabby 
Holt, who resided for many years in the southwest part of Har- 
winton. Mrs. Holt was a member of the Bull family which has 
now representatives in New York City and South Carolina. Dr. 
Bull of New York, who has a national reputation, is a descend- 
ant of this family. 

On May 12, 1861, Miss Tolles was married to Dr. Henry 
Plumb, originally of Wolcott, but who, on his graduating from 
Yale, settled in New Milford. In 1862 he entered the army as 



;oo 



HISTORY OF PLV.MOL'TH. 




Sarah E. Tolles Plumb 




George Pierpont. 



BIOGRAPHICAI. SKETCHES. 3OI 

surgeon of the 19th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, known as 
the Litchtield County Regiment. At the close of the war they 
removed west and settled in Pleasanton, Linn County, Kansas, 
seventy-five miles south of Kansas City. 

They have two sons, Charles Waldo, and Harry Averill, the 
former aged thirty-two and the latter twenty-seven, both having 
families. Waldo is in business in Ireton, Iowa, and Harry in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 



GEOKGE PIERPOXT. 

George Pierpont was the great-great-grandson of Rev. James 
Pierpont, who was the second pastor of the First Church in New 
Haven, the principal founder of Yale College, the reputed author 
of the constitution of the Connecticut churches, known as the 
Saybrook Platform, and whose daughter was the wife ol Rev. 
Jonathan Edwards, the eminent theologian, and President 
Dwight of Yale College was his grandson. 

Mr. Pierpont was also connected by blood relation with 
Rev. Thomas Hooker, who was the first pastor of the First 
Church in Hartford, the author of the colonial constitution of 
Connecticut, and he was also related through his grandmother 
with Rev. Timothy Collins, who was the first pastor of the 
Litchfield church, and through his mother to Caleb Humaston, 
one of the principal founders of Northbury Society, now Ply- 
mouth, whose granddaughter she was. The best blood of New 
England thus flowed in Mr. Pierpont's veins, constituting him a 
member of that nobility, not of rank, wealth or title, but of in- 
tellect, of learning, of piety, of culture, and of character, which 
has been the foundation of New England's greatness. The 
traces of this descent were manifest in Mr. Pierpont. Though 
denied the literary training which had characterized his earlier 
ancestry, he was a man of scholarly tastes, especially in the line 
of historical research, and kept himself well abreast of the 
g-eneral intelligence of the times. He was a man of strict 
integritv and of lofty honor, and scorned meanness and baseness 
in all its branches. He held at diflerent times various offices of 
public trust, such as magistrate, selectman, and clerk of the 
town, judge of probate, and w^as a member of the State legis- 
lature. In 1S61 he was appointed LTnited States assistant 
assessor and continued to hold that office for eleven years or 
until it was abolished. In 1S77 he was elected by the legislature 
countv commissioner of Litchfield Countv. and re-elected to the 
same office in iSSo. In April, 1S40. Mr. Pierpont married 
Aliss Caroline E. Beach, daughter of the late Isaac C. Beach, of 
Northfield, Conn., who was a devoted wife and helpmate for 
nearlv thirtv-four vears. She died January iS. 1S74. His 
second wife was the daughter of the late J. Sherman Titus, of 
Washington, Co..n. George Sherman Pierpont, his son, was 
born in Plvmouth, in 1S76, and is now being educated in 
Dr. Carleton's familv school in Bradford, Mass. 



302 



HISrOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 



< if 



^ 
_^^| 



Mrs. Joseph C. Alcox. 




A |-;ron-.^.n Alcntt. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 303 

CAPTAIN AMOS BRONSON. 

Captain Amos Bronson, who lived at Mount Jericho on the 
Naugatuck, was a leading man in establishing the Episcopal 
Church in Plymouth. His wife was Anna Blakeslee of this 
town. After marriage he embraced Episcopacy and became a 
staunch churchman, bringing his family up in that faith. He 
named his eldest son Tillotson, after the distinguished divine of 
that name. This son became rector of St. John's Church in 
Waterbury, and subsequently, for several years, was at the head 
of the Episcopal Academy in Cheshire. For many years it was 
the most celebrated seat of learning in the State under the control 
of churchmen ; it was both college and theological seminary for 
this and other dioceses. Dr. Bronson was distinguished for his 
classical and mathematical attainments. He was a theologian of 
eminence and the choice of a large portion of the diocese of 
Connecticut for the bishopric. For many years he was editor 
of the CJiurchntans Magazine^ to which he contributed portions 
of his lectures delivered to his students, entitled " Science the 
Handmaid of Religion," and a poem entitled "Retrospect," 
describing his birthplace on the Naugatuck, from which is 
quoted the following: 

"Sweet vale, secluded from the world's vain strife, 
Where science never trod, where genius slept 

In unambitious, humble life, 

And calm religion sought retreat, — 

Thy flowery lawns, thy green enamelled meads, 
Untuned to numbers, thee I joyous greet. 

"Full on the right a mountain appears sublime; 

There leafy forests crown its rounded brow; 
There up the rocky steep securely climb 

Few straggling, stinted oaks; and there 
A naked moss grown cliff of sable hue 

Bedims with gloom the sun's declining glare. 

"A dark-green two-fold pine, ascending tall, 
Just on the precipice's dizzy height, 
Nods to the winds and threats a fall. 

The seated hill and subject plain 
In seeming haze the swimming eye confuse, 
And all the kindling dazzling senses pain." 

Amos Bronson's second son, Noah Miles, was a man of 
strong mind and of a public spirit. He built the turnpike road 
along the banks of the Naugatuck to Salem Bridge in Water- 
bury, connecting there with the turnpike road to New Haven 
and with the road to Derby Landing. The building of this road 
through its length was thought an undertaking of no ordinary 
kind in those davs. It was not completed until iSo3. Before 
this- time in passing from Jericho to Waterbin-y, after the Revo- 
lution, one was obliged to ford the stream four or five times and 
remove from twenty-five to thirty sets of bars. It was through 
the bars and fords that the adventurous mother rode on her way 
to New Haven, twenty-five miles distant, and paid her son 
Tillotson's tuition bills. He fitted for college with Rev. Dr. 
Trumbull of Watertown and graduated at Yale in 17S6. 



304 



iiisrouN' ()i IM.^ .M(H_- 1 II, 




Louisa M. AlCdtt. 




.\\i:.. l_;iakc,slo\ 



lilOGHAI'IlICAL SKETCHES. 3O5 

Anna Broiison, daughter of Amos, married Joseph C. Alcox 
of Wolcott, and was mutlier of the celebrated scholar, lironson 
Alcott, and grandmother of Louisa M. Alcott. When she went 
to Wolcott she had advantages of culture that were not so com- 
mcjn there at that time, and at her marriage brought to the Spin- 
dle Hill neighborhood a refinement of disposition and a grace of 
deportment that gave a more polite tone to the little community- 
In the course of time her husband and children joined her in the 
Episcopal form of worship, when introduced in their neigiibor- 
hood, where the service was read (at the Spindle Hill school 
house), until in course of time a church was gathered. She lived 
to a great age, surviving her husband more than thirty years. 

Her son, Amos Bronson Alcott, was born in the house of 
his grandfatner. Captain John Alcott, November 2y, 1799. In 
the spring of 1814 he went to work for .Silas Hoadley, " fitting 
and putting together" clocks. The clock shop was situated 
about a mile from his home, and was reached by a blind, pre- 
cipitous pathway, leading down the declivity through a narrow 
defile, following and crossing repeatedly a little rushing stream, 
as it wovmd its way towards the iactory. This neighborhood 
was then named Ireland. The work proved irksome to Mr. 
Alcott, though neither hard nor disagreeable, but it left him less 
of the ireedom tor reading and study with which he had been 
favored hitherto, and, after urgent persuasion on his part, he was 
permitted to return and attend school. Afterward he became a 
peddler in the South, but being unsuccessful he turned to teach- 
ing school. Previous to 1837 the district schools of Connecticut, 
and of all New England, were at a low degree of discipline, 
instruction and comfort, and in all these matters Mr. Alcott set 
the example of improvement. He first gave his pupils single 
desks, now so common, instead of the long benches, and double 
or three-seated desks. He established a school library ; he broke 
away from the rule of severe and indiscriminate punishments, 
and substituted therefor appeals to the afiections and the moral 
sentiment of children. He introduced also light gymnastics, and 
made radical clianges in all the old-time methods. Mr. Alcott 
was married in 1S30 to a daughter of Colonel Joseph May of 
Boston, to whom four children were born, the authoress, Louisa 
M., being one. She was a popular writer of humorous and 
pathetic tales, and many of her books have been translated into 
French and German, being universally read by both old and 
young. 

Mr. Alcott was an uncle of E. L. Gaylord of Bridgeport, 
Anna Bronson Alcott being Mr. Gaylord's grandmother. The 
picture of Mrs. Alcott was taken at the age of eightv-nine, when 
she visited Mr. Gaylord in Terryville. 

MILO BLAKESI.EY. 

Milo Blakeslev was a descendant of Joel Blakeslev, who was 
born August 19, 1750. His father, Linus Blakesley, was a 
thrifty farmer living in the eastern part of Plymouth, and this 
son was born November 16, 1S04. After the usual experiences 



3o6 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Mrs Milo Blakesley. 




A. M. Blakesley. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 307 

of the youth of the time, not including much of educational ad- 
vantantages, he was, when about twenty, employed by Eli 
Teny, Jr., who was engaged in the manufacture of clock move- 
ments in the village of Terryville. Some time afterward he en- 
tered into partnership with Mr. Terry in the clock business, 
which arrangement continued until the death of Mr. Terry, 
when the atiairs of the concern were closed up. He then took 
up the care of the old family farm, which, with a large milk 
business, occupied him until a few years before his death when 
he moved nearer the village, to what was known as the " Frank 
Alix " place; where he died July 8, 1S71. 

He was a devoted member of the Congregational Church in 
Terryville, was one of its first deacons (an office which he re- 
tainetl until death), and was churcli treasurer for the greater part 
of the time. In politics he was an "Old-Line Whig." After 
the "Anti-Slavery" movement was inaugurated, he entered into 
it with earnestness, at a time, it must be remembered, when such 
an attitude was not popular, and when it cost something to take 
a decided stand for that cause. 

Any biography of Deacon Blakesley would be incomplete 
which did not speak of his wife, Dorcas McKee, whom he 
wedded October 26, 1S26, and by whom he had children — 
Theron, born December 11, 1827, died April 24, 18^2; Augus- 
tus Milo, born March 4, 1830; Fanny, born January iS, 1S32, 
died June 24, 1832 ; Fanny Jane, born August 23, 1833, died 
September 11, 18S5 ; Linus, born December 16, 1S37. Like her 
namesake of old she was " full of good works and almsdeeds 
which she did," a pattern of industry, frugalitv and devotion to 
God's service. She survived her husband twenty-three years, 
dying July 30, 1894, at the advanced age of ninety years. 

How much the good old town of Plymouth owes to that 
class of its citizens of which the subject of this sketch is an ex- 
ample, it would not be easy to estimate ; much certainly. Sturd}', 
righteous men they were, with something of Puritan blood in 
them, evinced continually in an uncompromising enmity toward 
evil and a congenial etlort to and for the good, as thev saw it. 

" Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, 
Their sober wishes never learned to stray ; 

Along the cool sequestered vale of life 

They kept the noiseless tenor of their way." 

AUGUSTUS M. BLAKESLEY. 

Augustus Milo Blakesley, the second son of Milo Blakesley, 
was born in the village of Terryville, March 4, 1830. The usual 
experiences of the common school and of the farm life of that 
period were his. After the short time in which he was emploved 
as a clerk in the stores of Andrew Terry and Allen Hemingwav 
in his native place, he went to Waterbury, March 22, 1S49, '^"'^^ 
was employed by J. M. L. 81 W. H. Scovill in their mercantile 
business. Remaining with them until they ceased operations in 
that particular line, he then took the position of teller in the 
Waterbury Banli (February 2, 1852), was appointed cashier, No- 



3o8 



HIS TORY OF PL^MOl'TH. 




A. p. RraJslreft. 




Frank W. Etheria^e. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



309 



vember 29, 1864, and at present (February, 1S95), holds that of- 
fice — a period of thirty years. His entire service in the institu- 
tion — forty-three years — is worthy of note. He is also president 
of the American Pin Company, treasurer of the Waterbury Hos^- 
pital, and has filled various positions of trust in town and city. 

Mr. Blakesley was one of the fifty original members of the 
Second Congregational Church of Waterbury, which was organ- 
ized in 1853, and has been treasurer of the society and of the 
Sunday-School since 1856. He also had charge of the music 
until 1876, and still sings in the choir; was appointed deacon 
November 7, 1879. He married Margaret Johnson of Cadiz, 
Ohio, September 5, 1S53, and has two children: Albert John- 
son, born April 30, 1S58 ; Jenny Elizabeth, born August 25, 1865. 

REV. L. BLAKESLEY. 

Of the loyal sons of Plymouth, tliere is one, now a resident 
of Topeka, Kan., who looks back to the place of his birth with 
an afiection and veneration that come to all who have gone forth 
and made their mark in this world. We speak of Rev. Linus 
Blakesley, the third son of Deacon Milo Blakesley. He was 
pi"epared for college at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, 
N. H., and graduated from Yale in i860; from Lane Theologi- 
cal Seminary, Cincinnati, in 1863, where he remained the fol- 
lowing year as tutor in Hebrew. Then for six years he was 
pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church at Piqua, O. Since 
that time he has been in Topeka, Kan., and is now completing 
the twenty-fifth year of his pastorate of the First Congregational 
Church. He was married to Nellie Treat at Terry ville in 1866. 
Three clildren are now living. 

Mr. Blakesley has been trustee and secretary of Washburn 
College for twenty-two years, from which institution he received 
the degree of D. D. in 1893; he is a member of the board of 
directors of the Chicago Theological Seminary, director of the 
Kansas Medical College, president of the Topeka Congrega- 
tional Club, president of the Choral Society, the finest musical 
organization in Kansas ; he has also been president of the school 
board of Topeka, and for many years chairman of the Kansas 
Home Missionaiy Society. 

JUDGE A. p. BRADSTREET. 

Hon. Albert P. Bradstreet, second son of Thomas J. and 
Amanda T. Bradstreet, was born in the town of Thomaston, for- 
merly Plymouth, June 9, 1846. His boyhood was spent in at- 
tending school in his native lown, and in work upon his father's 
farm. In 1S67 he entered Yale College, graduating in 1S71 with 
the degree of bachelor of arts. In the fall of the latter year he 
entered Columbia College Law vSchool in New York City, and 
graduated in 1873 with the degree of bachelor of laws. After 
spending a few months in the law office of Webster & O'Neill of 
Waterbury, he opened an oflice in Thomaston. 

In i877-'78 he represented Thomaston in the legislature, and 



3IO 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



was senator from the sixteenth district in the sessions of iSSi-'S2, 
serving the latter year as chairman of the judiciary committee. 

In 1S79 he was elected deputy judge of the district court of 
Waterbury, and in 1SS3 was elected judge of said court, being 
re-elected to the same otfice in 18S7 and again in 1S93. 

He was town clerk of Thomaston continuously from 1S75 
until 1891, and judge of probate for the Thomaston district from 
1 88 3 until 1S90. He has always been a Republican in politics. 

FRANK W. ETHERIDGE. 

Frank W. Etheridge was born in Montville, Conn., March 
31, 185S, educated in Hartford High School, and resided in 
Hartford for several years prior to 1880. He was admitted to 
the bar in 18S0 after a thorough course of study with the late 
Elisha Johnson (who for so many years was a prominent resi- 
dent of Plvmouth) and Hon. S. O. Prentice, now a judge of the 
Superior Court, then comprising the firm of Johnson & Prentice. 

Shortly after admission he moved to Thomaston and opened 
an office in Morse block. In December, 18S0, the law firm of 
Bradstreet Si. Etheridge was formed, and still exists, Hon. 
Albert P. Bradstreet, judge of the Waterbury district court, 
being the senior partner. 

Mr. Etheridge has been clerk of probate court, district of 
Thomaston, since its organization in 1882, till elected judge of 
same in 1890, which office he has since held ; the present town 
clerk and for three or four years past ; six years member of 
board of education, declining re-election last fall ; four jears 
secretary of board ; justice of the peace for past ten years or 
more. He is a member of the Methodist Church; of Franklin 
Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; of Columbia Encampment, I O. O. F. 
He married Ellen Matthews, December 20, 1882, and has lour 
children, Frederick W., Clara May, Jesse R., and Florence M. 

About December, 1892, after the death of editor C. James, 
and when, for want of management, the paper seemed about to 
go to pieces, he bought the Thomaston Express, and has since 
brought it to a higher standard than ever before. The publica- 
tion has just entered upon its sixteenth year. It is still managed 
and edited by him, and is a live and thriving publication devoted 
largelv to Thomaston and vicinity. 

Mr. Etheridge is interested in the prosperity of his town 
and a firm believer in the future continued growth of the place. 

CAPTAIN LEA^TTT DARROW. 

Captain Leavitt Darrow, son of Captain Titus Darrow, one 
of the incorporators of the town of Plymouth, was born in Ply- 
mouth, January 2, 1792, and died May 11, 1863. Presented 
herewith is his well known face and family monogram. 

Having spent his whole ^i^V^ ''^'^ here, and being so well 
known, the family history A^lj naturally centers in him. 
He was born at the old _-fi^>^ family home west of the 
church (south side of the street), settled on the farm 

one mile north, and later at his farm in the "Hollow," now 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3 II 

Thomaston. He was a soldier of the war of 1S12, and was 
stationed for defense of New London until lionorably discharged. 
He was captain of militia and selectman of the town of Plymouth, 
and ready to meet every requirement of a citizen. He retained 
his membership to the last in the old Congregational Church in 
Plymouth. 

" Frank, open-liearted, generous as the sun 
Dispenses blessings by his genial rays, 
So he by many a kindly act, 
Smoothed down life's rugged ways." 

Lucy Blackman Darrow, a daughter of Elisha Blackman, a 
pioneer of "Wyoming Valley," Penn., and the mother of Cap- 
tain Leavitt Darrow, was among those who escaped the Indian 
massacre on the devastation of that fair region claimed by the 
State of Connecticut. 

Captain Darrow was thrice married. The mother of his 
children was Betsy, daughter of Amos Smith of Litchfield (now 
Morris). She died November 29, 1S32. His second wife was 
Esther Hall, who died March S, 1S38. His third wife was Mrs. 
Delia Hill, who died November 21, 1S85. 

His father. Captain Titus Darrow, who died in Plymouth, 
January 25, 1841, aged nearly 88 years, was a soldier of the 
Revolution, and participated in the battle of Saratoga at the cap- 
ture of Burgoyne, October 17, 1777. His sister, Anna Darrow, 
after a long life of usefulness, sleeps in the "new" grounds at 
Plymouth. His eldest son, Erastus Darrow, is a bookseller and 
publisher in Rochester, N. Y. Amos iSmith Darrow, second 
son, graduated at Yale University in 1847, resided in the South 
for many years, and died in 1S77, leaving one son, Wallace 
Leavitt, now residing in Tallulah, La. Wallace, the youngest 
son living of Captain Darrow, resides at Yorktown, N. Y. Of 
his stepsons, Harlow B. Hill is an esteemed business man in 
Chicago, and Judge Edward M. Hill, residing in Beatrice, is 
County Judge of Gage County, Nebraska. Mrs. Charles L. 
Goodhue of Springfield and Mrs. Montague of Holyoke, Mass., 
are daughters of the eldest stepson, Lewis H. Hill. 

A son of Erastus Darrow, Dr. Charles E. Darrow, is a 
practicing physician in Rochester, N. Y. He is the custodian 
of the sword of his great-grandfather, Titus Darrow. A son of 
Wallace Darrow, Colonel Walter N. P. Darrow, is a graduate 
of West Point. He glories in his family military record, and in 
his membership in the Sons of the Revolution of Ohio. He 
resides at Columbus, O. 

The members of the family have removed to other localities, 
but an esteemed relative, Hon. Porter Darrow, is doing his life 
work in Thomaston, the western portion of old Plymouth. 

AARON D. WELLS. 

Aaron Dutton Wells was born in Plymouth, Conn., June 
14, 1 80S, in the house now occupied by his daughter, Elizabeth 
Wells. He was one of Plymouth's most prominent citizens, and 



312 



IIISrOKY OF PLVMOUril. 




Captain Leavitt Dar 




Aaron D. Wells. 



BIOGUAPHICAL SKETCHES. 313 

during his lifetime held many offices of trust for his town. He 
was a strong abolitionist and Congregationalist. Mr. Wells 
married Miss Martha Bull, November i6, 1831, and died April 
II, 1S71. His children were: Allan B., born August, 1837, 
died, 1S73; Elizabeth B., born July, 1839; George M., born 
October, 1S45. 

COLEY JAMES. 

In 1S83 the house next to the residence of Mr. Talmadge was 
bought by Coley James, editor and proprietor of the Thomaston 
Express^ and, at the time of the purchase, a member of the leg- 
islature of Connecticut. He had been living in what was called 
the Migeon Mansion, in Torrington, a place within easy reach 
of his office in Thomaston. Mr. James was born in 1837, in 
Wilton, Conn., where the James family had lived for several 
generations. He was educated at Trinity college, Hartford. In 
1 86 1 he joined the army, entering Company D, First Connecti- 
cut Cavalry Volunteers, and served three years, when he retired 
with the rank of lieutenant of Company H. 

After the war he was engaged in teaching for several years 
before beginning his editorial w^ork. He was for some time 
editor and proprietor of the Wolcottville (or Torrington) Regis- 
ter. He sold that paper in 18S3, and took charge of the Thom- 
aston Express. He died in Plymouth, July 30, 1S93. ISIr. 
James was twice married. His first wife died within a few years 
of her marriage, leaving two sons, Louis Bishop and Coley 
Clifford. The elder, Louis, was killed in the terrible railroad 
disaster at White River Junction, in 1887. The second wife 
died in [anuarv, 1S93, leaving two young children, Mary Belden 
and Burtis Magie, who are now living in Dover, N. J. Mr. 
James was a member of the Episcopal Church. In politics he 
was through life an ardent Republican. 

RILEV SCOTT. 

Rilev Scott w^as born in Waterbury, Conn., July 3, 1806, 
and died"^ in Plymouth, February 21, 1892. Mr. Scott, when 
quite young, learned the carpenters and joiner's trade, and was 
subsequentlv a successful contractor and builder. In 1S38 he 
erected the Terryville Congregational Church, of which he was 
a member up to the time of his death. He had erected more 
houses and buildings in the town, up to the time he retired, than 
any other builder. He also built the school house in 1S50, and 
the town hall in 1853. As he advanced in years, he purchased 
a large farm, and followed the occupation of farming for some 
time. He was kind hearted, industrious and a Christian, whose 
ideas of rights, irrespective of party, creed, color or sex, received 
the respect of the entire community. In building the Congrega- 
tional Church at Ellsworth, Mr. Scott received severe injuries 
from which he never recovered. Mr. Scott married Anna R. 
Blakeslev of Northfield, October 12, 1830, by whom he had five 



3H 



HISrOKV f)F PLYMOUTH. 




Rilev Scott. 




EJwiii M Talm;!j.y;e. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 315 

children: Julius, born July 27, 1831, died March 11, 1S33 ; 
Henry Thomas, born January 23, 1833, died March 31, 1S43 ; 
Marietta, born November 17, 1836; Walter Henry, born July 
29. 1841 ; Moses Riley, born October 38, 1843. Mrs. Scott died 
May 8, 1853. Mr. Scott's second wife was Melinda A. Burnell 
of Cummington, Mass., whom he married. May 7, 1854. Their 
children were: Gertrude Elizabeth, born September 3, 1856, 
and died May 3, 1863; Julius Homer, born May 38, 1858, and 
died May 2, 1863; Emily Amelia, born Octol^er 14, 1863; 
Gertrude Adaline, born January 3, 1865. Some of the best 
workmen in Plymouth learned their trade of Mr. Scott. 



EDWIN M. TALMADGE. 

Edwin M Talmadge, Plymouth's present postmaster, was 
born in this town in 1833, and is a son of Edwin Talmadge, who 
was in business here for about forty years, and who had served 
as postmaster several terms. Mr. Talmadge is one of Plymouth's 
prominent citizens, and has held many offices of trust, such as 
auditor, selectman, justice of the peace, and was town clerk for 
a number of years. He is also a member of St. Peter's Epis- 
copal Church and has held the office of senior warden there tor 
some years. Mr. Talmadge was married to Miss Diana C. 
Bucknall of New Britain in 1858. His children are Anna C. 
Talmadge and William G. Mr. Talmadge's father was at one 
time in company with A. B. Curtiss. 



WILLIAM W. BULL. 

Benedict Bull and Betsy Carrington were married at 
Milford, Conn., in April, 1800, and moved to Plymouth, in 1S15. 
They had fourteen children, ten of whom lived to adult age, one 
dying in 1838, aged eighteen. William W. was the youngest of 
five sons, born November 38, 1816; Edward Carrington married 
and migrated to Bradford County, Penn., a farmer, and died in 
1845 ; Jabez B. went to Bufialo to find employment and became 
a member of a tannery company, and died in 1S71 ; Isaac Miles 
went into the care of his uncle, Edward Carrington, Providence, 
R. I., at nine years of age, and when nineteen years old he went 
on a ship to the west coast of South America, sold the cargo, 
took in silver, went to Canton, China, and took in tea, when he 
returned home after an absence of three years. He again 
returned to Canton and spent fourteen years there, when he 
returned to Woonsocket, R. I., and started a cotton mill. He 
was never married and died in 1884 Henry C. learned the 
clock maker's trade, and went to Alton, 111., as agent for the 
company to sell clocks, in 1839. -^^ died in 1885. 

William Bull married Sophia P. Buell in 1846, and remained 
at the old family homestead with his father and mother and older 
sister until his wife died in 1874. His father died in 1853 and 
mother in 1872. He then married Mrs. Sarah M. Fenton in 



316 



IllSlOltV OI' I'l.N MOU 1 II. 




W W. Bull 




Ml-, liL-i>\ Bull 



BIOGHAl'IIRAI. SKETCHES ;:^ I 7 

1S76, rented the old taiin, and Ixuii^ht and moved into the par- 
sonage built 1)\ the Rev. ^Vndrew Stori s in 1764, where he now 
resides. Mr. Hull has held many trustworthy offices, and has 
lived to see many changes in tiie town and the church of which 
he is a most prominent member. 

CALVIN lU'TI.EK. 

Calvin Butler was born in \\'ateil)ur\- (now W'olcott), October 
6, 1772. In the spring of 1773 the family moved to New AJail- 
boro, Mass. His education preparatory to entering college was 
obtained under the tutelage of Kev. Ammi Robbins of Norfolk, 
Conn. He married Miss Rosanna Phelps in Noriolk, October 
16, 1799' Their first child was born in Canaan in November, 
iSoo; two other children were born in Bristol, one in December, 
1802, and one in February, 1S05 ; the fourth child was born in 
Plymouth, April 15, 1S07; from which is inferred Mr. Butler 
came to Plymouth in 1S06. He bought the house which is now 
owned by Henry C. Ives, and which remained his home while 
he lived. He had a family of fourteen children, only four of 
whom survived him. E. T. Butler of Norfolk, the seventh 
child anti the only one now living, was born December 21, 1S13. 
He is now living in the house where his father and mother weie 
married, and if his life is continued for four and one-half yeais 
more he expects to celebrate the one hundreth anniversary of 
his parents' wedding in the room in which they were married 
in 1799. His father died August i, 1845, having served as a 
public oilicer in Plymouth for many years, much of the time 
being the only lawyer in the town. 

A. B. CUHTISS. 

A. B. Curtiss was born in the town of Plymouth in 18 ic), 
and died at the age of sixty-seven. While a boy he entered the 
store of Edwin Talmadge as clerk, and his aptness for business 
and pleasant manners so commended him to his employer that 
when he became of age he was taken into partnersliip. The 
firm did a large business for those da^s, but unfortunate endorse- 
ments caused their downfall. Mr. Curtiss started in business 
again in the Stephen jVIitchell store, but soon after bought the 
property where he died, remodeled the house, and opened a 
hotel. Except for a couple of years, when he kept the Brown 
hotel in Waterbury, he had for forty years welcomed strangers 
to -his house and catered to their wants. He was well fitted for 
a landlord by his care to have cyerything pleasant, his genial 
hearty manners and business like ways. He was a bene^"olent, 
public spirited man, always ready to do his full share in commf)n 
enterprises. His later years were full of suHering, vet to the 
last he had a bright and cheery word for each friend and 
acquaintance. Mrs. A. B. Curtiss still keeps the doors of the 
Qiiiet house open to strangers and travelers, some of whom often 
travel out of their way to indulge in the homelike accommoda- 
tions that arc to be had there. 



3iS 



lllsrOKV OK PI.^MOl Til 




Residence <if Wm. \V. Bull. 




Quiet House, Plymouth. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 319 

GEOUGE LANGDON. 

John Langdon, one of the early settlers of Farniington, was 
one of the proprietors of VVaterbury. His name appears tirst on 
the list of the subscribers to the articles of association and has 
set to it the sum of one hundred pounds. He had a house lot on 
Willow street in Waterbury and other allotments of land, but 
did not remain long in VVaterbury, and his allotments were sold. 
He died in Farmington in 1689. 

Joel Langdon, the fifth in line of descent from John, came 
to Plymouth in 1794, and purchased the home represented here. 
In this house he kept a country store and lived there after his 
marriage in 1796. He had Solomon and Zenas Cowles of 
Farmington for his partners for three or four years. In a very 
few years he built the store now used as a post office. He was 
tax collector in i-^^S, and served as constable, administering the 
punishment of whipping at the post the last man thus sentenced 
in Plymouth. He married Mary Gridle^', of Farmington, in 
1796. He was an active, energetic business man, transporting 
his goods from New York by sailing vessels to New Haven, and 
from New Haven by team. He was a man of genial disposition, 
public-spirited and benevolent. He gave a helping hand to the 
men who in Plymouth were the pioneers in manufacturing and 
were struggling hard to make a start. He joined the Congrega- 
tional Church in 1S31, and died in 1S3S, being buried the same 
day that the steeple of the old church was pulled down. He had 
two sons, Edward and George. George was as a young man a 
great favorite with all classes. He was a classmate and room- 
mate in Yale College of Horace Bushnell, D. D. He died in 
Boston in 1S36, before graduation. A large number of people 
joined in procession to meet the body on its way from Hartford. 

Edward was first clerk and afterwards partner with his 
father, later carrving on the business himself. When a voung 
man he went to Litchfield with Dr. Buell and learned the art ot 
compounding drugs and putting up prescriptions. When he 
came back that business was added to the other. Perhaps it 
was the first drug store in town. Edward was a public-spirited 
man, energetic and active, much interested in the establishment 
of an academy, and in starting an infant school which had many 
kindergarten featin^es. He held the offices of treasurer of the 
School Society, of the Town, of the Fimd of the Congregational 
Society. He joined the church in 183 1, was married to 
Prudence Emeline Gates of East Haddam, in 1S35, and died in 
1 866, having lived forty years in the house he built before 
marriage. He was a strong Anti-Mason, a Henry Clay Whig, 
and a Republican. He became a farmer in 1833, ^"^ introduced 
the first cultivator, horse rake, subsoil plow and mowing 
machine. His character was a positive one — spoke his opinion 
freely without fear or favor, joined heartily in first temperance 
and total abstinence reform, and gave freely of his time and 
money to public service. He had one son, George, and two 
daughters, Ellen M.. who married Lucius P. Porter, in i8=;i, 
and died in 1861 ; also vSarah H.,w^ho died in 1858, aged eleven. 



330 



HISTORY OF PI.YMOUTH. 




Edward Langdon. 




Birtliplace of Edward Laiig;di>ii. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



321 



George was fitted for college at Farmington, graduated at 
Yale College in 1S48, went into businei^s in Colchester in 1S49 
with L. P. Porter. While in Colchester he was elected one of 
the board of school visitors, justice of the peace, and in 1S53 was 
sent to the legislature. In 1S51 he married Elizabeth A. Chap- 
man, of Colchester. In 1S54, ^^^ with four others started the 
Novelty Rubber Company, which in 1855 located in New 
Brunswick, N. J. This was his place of residence until 18^7, 
when he returned to Plymouth. In 1869 he was one of the 
directors of the Plymouth Woolen Company. While in Ply- 
mouth he has held the various olfices of selectman for ten yeai s, 
one of the board of school visitors, acting school visitor, town 
treasurer, justice of the peace, and grand juror. In church, the 
offices of clerk, deacon, Sunday School superintendent. In 
society, ot committee and fund committee. During the war he 
was appointed by Governor Buckingham one ot the commis- 
sioners to enlist colored men in Connecticut regiments. The 
office of trustee of the Reform School was given him by Governor 
Jewell and afterwards by the State, during the superintendency 
of Dr. Hatch. His principal public work has been in connec- 
tion with Connecticut Sunday ^School Association from its 
formation in 1S59 to date, having held the positions of countv 
secretary, member of executive committee, and chairman. In 
the prosecution of this work he has visited 116 towns of the 
State, some of them many times, taking part in organizing new 
Sunday Schools and caring for them, preparing for and assisting 
in various conventions held. His present position is that of 
honorary member for life of the executive committee. 

His family consists of three sons, Edward in New York, 
Lucius and Joseph in Bridgeport, a daughter, Ellen, at home. 
The grandson, who has the same surname as the emigrant 
ancestor George, is the tenth in direct line in this country, 
running back for more than two and a half centuries. 



TIMOTHY ATWATER, SK. AND JR. 

One of the early settlers of Plymouth was Timothy Atvvater, 
who was born May 6, 1756, and was married to Lyifia Humis- 
ton, who was born June 5, 1756, and died in June, 1843. Mr. 
Atwater died Mav 6, 1830. He owned the old red house which 
stood on Town Hill, surrounded bv seventv-four acres of land. 
His three sons, named respectively Elam, Wyllys and Timothy, 
Jr., were born in Plymouth Center. The latter came into pos- 
session of the farm and bought additional land until he finally 
became owner of 300 acres, all cleaied except a little wood lot. 
He furnished Plymouth Hill, Terryville, Thomaston and Bristol 
with meat for many years. Woodchuck Allen drove one of his 
meat wagons to supply Bristol trade, and three or four other 
carts were in service to supplv the other villages. Mr. Atwater 
was a man of unusual strength, and it is related of him that he 
could throw a good sized beef creature on to its side bv taking 
hold of its horns, and that when milking a kicking cow he would 



HisTom' OK PL^•MOU^II. 




Residence owned bv Mrs (ie()n:e 1 anedc 




George L;in.i;don. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 333 

milk witli one hand while with the other he would hold the 
cow's leg" out at ami's leni^th until he had finished. He went 
into the tackhammer buhine.ss in Allentov\ n about the year 1S45, 
but this proved a disastrous ventin^e for him, for he was burned 
out and lost about $^,000. He did not invest any further in 
manufticturing enterprises. 

Air. Atwater was born October 16, 1799, and was married 
to Emiice P. Ives December 3, 1S29. He died Februarv 14, 
1S53, leaving a widow and two sons, Elbert and Stephen. The 
latter now resides in Fennville, Mich , and his mother, who was 
ninety-five yeais old March 9, this \ear, lives with him. 

WVLLVS ATWATER. 

Wyllys Atwater was born October 6, 1790, in Pl\ mouth 
Center on South street where he lived imtil nine years old, when 
his father, Timothy Atwater, mcjved on to a large farm on Town 
Hill. At the age of eighteen years he bought his time of his 
father and went to New Jersey where he peddled tinware. He 
was married twice — to Fanny Purely, Februarv 26, 1S13, who 
died in 1843, and to Julia Curtiss (widow of Eli Curtiss) in 1S44. 
He was the father of twelve children. He owned a farm below 
Thomaston in early life but disposed ol it, and removed to the 
farm which he sold to and is now owned by Henry S. Minor. 
Mr. Atwater was first selectman for several years, and was one 
of the prominent men of his dav. He died April 18, 1S73, aged 
eighty-two years and six months. 

HENRY A'rWATKR. 

Henry Atwater, son of VV}llys, was born in 1S15 and ilied 
in 1S65, aged fifty years. He was a stone mason by trade, but 
in his advanced years he became the village "squire." His 
opinion was sought on legal points, he was the justice in all local 
cases, united people in bonds of matrimonv, executed wills, and 
was regarded as a man of even and exact justness. He had an 
enterprising spirit, and in company with Howell Cowles, was 
the first to manufacture cooking stoves in or near Plymouth. 
This was fifty years ago, and it was as hard then to introduce a 
stove into a house as later it was to put on lightning rods. It 
was customary to drive around with a stove until a customer 
was found, when it could be unloaded and put up. Mr. Atwater 
was interested in other business ventures, the making of cast iron 
skates, automatic apple pickers, and also as a maker of brick. 
He married Catherine Fenn in 1836, who died in 1863. Eight 
children survived them. 



BARNABAS W. ROOT, 

Barnabas VV. Root was a native of the old town of Wood- 
bury, where he lived with his parents, David Root and Margaret 
Mallory, both natives of Woodburv, until he was twelve years 



324 



IIIS^()K^ op^ pi,YMOurT^ 




Mrs Tiiii(itli\- Atwater, .!r. 




Wvll\s Alwatt 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKE'IXIlhS. 



325 



old. His home was then with his uncle, Deacon Francis Mal- 
loiy, in Southbury. When a young man he learned the trade of 
tailor, with Isaac Johnson. He had as a fellow apprentice, Israel 
P. Warren, who afterwards became his pastor in Plymouth. In 
1829 he married Caroline P. Hinman of VVaterbury, daughter of 
Hon. CiHtiss Hinman. In the great revival of 1831 he was con- 
verted and joined the Congregational Church in Southbury. In 
1S33 he removed to Plymouth where he conducted a tailoring 
business. For a short time before 1S40 he and Henrv L. Har- 
rington engaged in the manufacture of various kinds of stocks 
then used for men's neckwear. These were made with a bristle 
frame and covered with silk, satin or other nice material. They 
were neither handsome to look at nor comfortable to wear. His 
occupation until within a few years of his death was, with the 
above exception, that of tailor. In the church he hekl the otiice 
of deacon from 1853 to his death. He was also for some years 
superintendent of the Sunday School and one of the standing 
committee. In 1845 he was elected representative to the General 
Assembly, served some years as town treasurer and judge of pro- 
bate, as well as holding other town offices. In politics he was 
an ardent Whig, and naturally became an earnest Republican. 
His marked characteristics were positive and intelligent convic- 
tions as to right and wrong, a quiet and sensible judgment of 
principles and men. Such a man having positiveness without 
rudeness inspired a confidence such as few men enjoy. He was 
very self denying, helping others when he could ill afford to. 
With a sober face and quiet expression he would often convulse 
the bystanders with biu^sts of genuine humor, all unexpected. 

He had three sons, Charles, Howard, who died at the age 
of six years, and Edward C, who is a worthv representative of 
the family, residing in Thomaston, and who is one of the execu- 
tive committee of the Connecticut Sundav School Association, 
deacon and superintendent of the Sundav School. The name of 
Barnabas W. Root was given to a native African boy, who was 
for some time cared for by the Plymouth Sunday School, came 
to this country to be educated, graduated at Knox College, Illi- 
nois, with honors, studied for the ministry at Chicago Theologi- 
cal Seminary, was ordained at the Broadwav Tabernacle Church, 
New York City, and returned to Africa, where he died. 

JONATHAN POND. 

The subject of this sketch, a resident of the town of Plymouth 
at the dace of its organization, was the second son of Phineas 
and Martha Pond of Branford, Conn., where he was born in 
1739. He was of a family of seven boys and three girls. In 
1764 he purchased of Benjamin Cook of Farmington (Bristol 
was then in the town of Farmington), fifty-one acres of land, and 
the same year he also purchased land of Eliphalet Eaton of 
Goshen. This land was situated in that part of the town of 
Bristol since, and perhaps then, known as Chippenv or Chippin's 
Hill. His sister Martha, who afterwards married Isaac Curtis 
of Plymouth, probablv came with him or soon afterwards. 



IIISIOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 



Henr\ Atwatei. 




E^aniabas W. R<»jt. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 327 

While living on the Chippin's Hill farm, probably soon after 
coming into possession of it, he married Susannah Hungerford 
of Bristol. They had but one child, Phineas, 2d. He died 
October 28, 181S, and was buried at East Plymouth. He was 
fifty-two years of age at the time of his death. .Susannah did 
not long survive the birth of her son. Soon after her death 
Jonathan disposed of his Chippins Hill farm and settled in the 
town of Plymouth in 1770. He was then thirty-one years of 
age. His Plymouth farm consisted of about 200 acres, situated 
partly in Bristol and partly in Plymouth. This farm remained 
in the possession of Jonathan and his descendants until 1S64, a 
period of ninety-four years. The Pond homestead now standing 
near the southeast corner of the town was built by him. The 
exact date of its erection cannDt be ascertained, yet from the 
best information obtainable, the writer of this sketch believes it 
to have been built either during or near to the year 179=1. The 
impression that the house now standing much antedates this 
period is erroneous, for his son Philip, born in 177S, drew a 
portion of the timber for the frame from the town of Harwinton. 
When he first took possession of the farm he doubtless lived in 
the ''old house," which then stood near where the present 
centennarian stands. 

The second wife of Jonathan Pond was Jerusha Jerome of 
Bristol, an aunt of the late Chauncey Jerome of New Haven, 
formerly of Plymouth. To them nine children, five sons and 
four daughters, were born. They, the children, received their 
education, •' readm', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic," at the district school 
on Fall mountain. Mr. Pond was a blacksmith as well as a 
farmer. The commercial and religious center of this section of 
the countrv in those early davs was Bristol. He united with the 
Congregational Church there July 31, i774- ■'^^^ onl}' he, but 
both of his wives, two sons and a daughter, and later a grand- 
daughter were members of this church. On the i6th of Decem- 
ber, 1817, he departed this life, aged 78 years. Eleven years 
later, to wit, in 1828, there came another day of mourning at 
the old homestead, for mother and grandmother had passed 
away, gone to join her husband beyond the river. She was 
seventy-seven at the time of her death. The death of Jerusha, 
widow of Jonathan Pond, was not the second death occurring in 
the old house now standing. It was probably the third, possi- 
blv the fourth, as Nancv, the youngest child of Jonathan, died 
at the age of sixteen, and the event may have occurred soon after 
the familv took possession of the then new house. The second, 
or, if Nancv died there, the third to occur was tragic and sad 
indeed. At the date of which we write, 1826, Philip, the fourth 
child of Jonathan, resided with his family of eight children at 
the old homestead. Jerusha, his mother, resided with him. On 
Sunday, Julv 30, while the whole family, with the exception of 
a daughter, twentv-two years of age, and two infant children, 
aged two vears and nine months and three months old respect- 
ivelv, were at church in Bristol, Anna, the wife of Philip, sud- 
denlv dropped dead upon the floor. The grown up daughter 



3^S 



IIIS'IOHV OK PKVMOl'TH. 




Jonathan PcmJ's Honiesiead. 




Alexander Pond. 



BIOGUAPHICAI. SKETCHES. 329 

ran to the house oi' her uncle Jonathan, whose wife was her 
mother's sibter, a near neighbor residing upon a part of the old 
farm, and notified them of the event. Alexander, her double 
cousin, hastened with all possible dispatch to inform the family. 
It is said that her husband ran his horse most of the way from 
the church to his home. That the event produced a shock not 
only to the family but throughout the neighborhood goes without 
the saying. She was buried in Bristol in the old South burying 
ground. Jonathan and Jerusha ! What old fashioned names ! 
For four successive generations this pioneer couple have had 
descendants born within the limits of the town. For three 
generations the old homestead was in the family and the biith 
rate was pretty steadily maintained. 

Upon the death of Jonathan Pond part of the farm was taken 
by his second son, Jonathan, Jr., the balance, with the home- 
stead, going to his fourth son, Philip, who in turn became the 
head of a large familv. Of his children, Philip and Jonathan 
W. are now living at New Haven, Conn., Harriet became the 
wife of Eli Terry, while the second son, Willard E., went west 
and aided materiallv in populating that sparsely settled country. 
Major J. B. Pond of New York is his son. Alexander Pond, 
son of Jonathan Pond, Jr., and Betsev Adams Pond, born March 
9, iSii, married Lvdia Gaylord of Bristol, Conn., became the 
owner of the home of his grandfather in 1S35, making it his 
home until by sale it passed out of the Pond name in 1S64. A 
peculiar feature of their occupancy is that each owner raised a 
family of eight children, five boys and three girls. The children 
of Alexander now living are: Caroline A., wife of N. D. 
Granniss, Waterburv; Sarah A., wife of S. A. Clark, New 
Haven ; Martin A., Waterbury ; Eliza A., wife of J. W. Clark, 
Terry ville, and Edgar L., Terry ville. 

A. STOUGHTON. 

Andrew Stoughton was born in Plymouth, November 16, 
1796, and died April 7, 1S50, his whole life having been spent 
in his native town. He was the son of Captain Oliver Stough- 
ton, who was a prominent man in his day, and was captain ot 
the militia at the close of the Revolutionary war. Deacon 
Stoughton lived a quiet life as a farmer, yet by his earnest and 
consistent Christian character he won the respect and esteem of 
all who knew him. He was elected to the office of deacon of 
the First Congregational Church at the age of thirty, which 
office he held until his death. He left two daughters and four 
sons. Three of the latter have been deacons in the churches of 
Plymouth and Terryville. His wife was Julia Hooker, a daugh- 
ter of Deacon Ira Hooker, of Red-vStone Hill, Plainville, and 
was a direct descendant of Rev. Thomas Hooker of Hartford. 

JOHN M. ^VARD^VEI,L. 

John M. Wardwell was born in Sharon, Conn., and died in 
Plymouth, Februai v 20, 1S95. Mr. Wardwell came to the town 



msroitv OF im.n mocth. 




E. L Pond's Residence. 




Andrew Stoughton. 



BIO(iKAP}IlCAL SKETCHKS. 33I 

when a young man, from Salisbury, and was engaged as clerk 
by Talmadge & Curtiss. After leaving here he was for some 
yeais in the employ of H. M Welch, who was a merchant in 
what is now Plainville, but at that time called the Basin. After 
that he went to Waterbury and engaged in manufacturing cotton 
gins, and later went to Florence, Mass., and afterwards became 
New York agent for the Williston & Knight Company, who 
were manufacturers of buttons. In 1S69 he came to Thomaston 
(then Plymouth) and was the treasurer and general manager of 
the Plymouth Woolen Company. Here he had a severe illness, 
from which lie never recoyered. 

He traveled much in this countiy and in Europe, seeking 
for health and spending his winters in a warm climate and his 
summers in Plymouth. Air. Wardwell was a very active, ener- 
getic and thorough business man, sparing no pains to do every- 
thing he had in hand in the best possible way. He was also 
courageous, hopeful, thoroughly honest, and had strong convic- 
tions as to truth and justice. He had been for many years a 
member of the Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, of which Dr. 
Cuyler was for so many vears pastor. His benevolent gifts were 
man}', and his giving was systematic, hearty and intelligent. 
His many good qualities endeared him to all who had the 
pleasure of his acquaintance, and his example served as an 
inspiration to them. The world is better for having such men in it. 

\V. G. BARTON. 

\V. G. Barton was born in Litchfield, Conn., and came to 
Plymouth a number of years ago. For five years he was 
engaged in the grocery business on Plymouth Hill, where the 
firm was known as Barton & Beach. For the last seven years 
he has been in the same line of business in the village of Terry- 
ville, and has won the respect and confidence of all by his 
thoroughly accommodating ways in serving his customers The 
present business is carried on in the store and buildings owned 
by E. M. Daily of Bristol. His line of goods consists of every- 
thing that may i)e called for or wanted, and his prices, like his 
goods, are seldom criticised. Mr. Barton was sent to the 
legislature in 1SS3 and has since served as first selectman, and 
has in many other ways been honored by his fellow citizens. 

JOSEPH C. BAKTHE. 

Joseiih C. Barthe came to Terrvville from Thomaston in 
June, 1S92, where he had resided for fifteen years, and where he 
was employed for nine vears in the rolling mill. He was in 
Westfield, Mass., when the late war broke out, and enlisted 
from there and served faithfully until his discharge in July, 1S64. 
For over two vears he was landlord of the Terryville Hotel, and 
has become well known here and elsewhere by his pleasant man- 
ner in catering to the wants of all who have had occasion to dine 
and rest under his roof. When the hotel property was sold he 



33- 



IlISrORV OF PLV.MOUIII. 




Jdhii iM VVarJwell. 




ResiJeiiCf (if VV. (,. Barton. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 333 

moved into the house owned by Dr. Swett, and where he now 
resides and accommodates both regular and transient boarders. 
Mr Barthe is a mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, 
Council and Commandery, He is also a member of the United 
Workmen, and was one of the charter members of the Thomas- 
ton lodsre. 



ALFRED B. RENFREE. 

Alfred B. Renfree was born in Monon, County of Cornwall, 
England, in 1815. His parents' names were John and Mary. 
He began early to provide for himself, at ten years going to live 
with a farmer and a few years later employed as a clerk in a 
grocery store in the town of Falmouth. Here in 1S39 ^^^ 
married Maria Gay. After living six years in Falmouth he 
removed to Truro, where he was employed by a wholesale 
grocer}- tirm. The Rev. William Gay, a brother ot Mrs. Ren- 
fiee and father of Rev. William Gay of Terryville, having come 
to America and sending back good accounts of the country, Mr. 
Renfree decided to come over. After a passage of six weeks the 
family of six landed in New York about the middle of October, 
1849. After spending the winter in Haddam, where Mrs. Ren- 
free's brotiier lived, he went to farming in INliddlebury. From 
there in 1S53 he went to Plymouth Hollow in the employ of 
Henry Terry, woolen manufacturer. From Mr. Terry he pur- 
chased a farm on which he lived until he removed to Plymouth 
Center, where he died in 1880 at the age of sixty-five. Mrs. 
Renfree outlived him for a few years. His family consisted of 
four sons, John, William B., James H., Philip; two daughters, 
Amelia, who married Edward C. Root, and died March 18, 
189^, and Marietta. Mr. Renfree was very fond of his family 
and enjoyed his home life. He was generous and kind hearted. 
During a revival in 1873 he became a changed man. The 
change was very marked, not only in his daily life, but in his 
many expressions of delight in the service of his new master, the 
Lord Jesus Christ. His heart and life seemed to overflow with 
Christian J03' and peace. 



A. H. TAYLOR. 

Algelon H. Taylor, who died in Plymouth, Jul\' 6, 1S94, 
had been in the sewing machine and musical trade for seventeen 
years in Thomaston. He also had a jewelry business, all of 
which was conducted in the large store in the north end of Brad- 
street's block. He had a branch store in Waterbur}' and several 
agents on the road at the time of his death. He was born in 
Cornwall and lived to be fortv-one years and five months old. 
In September, 18S1, he married Miss Jessie Richaids, an 
adopted daughter of E. L. Richards of West Goshen, Conn., and 
for nine years previous to Mr. Taylor's death they made Ply- 
mouth their home. Airs. Ta\ lor, a daughter and two sons 
suryive. 



334 



HISTOKV OF PLYMOUTH. 




Joseph C. Barthe. 




AlfreJ B. Renfree 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 335 

C. M. MINOR. 

C. M. Minor, now of Bridgeport, who was born in Woodbury 
in 1817, came to Plymouth in 1833, to learn the tailor's trade of 
Deacon B. W. Root. He well remembers the Rev. Luther 
Hart, and saw the old church torn down and tlie new one built. 
He married Rev. H. D Hitchel's sister. Mr. Minor recalls the 
fact that in 1S39 he saw the last slave ship, the Amistad, which 
ever entered the waters of Long Island vSound. The cargo con- 
sisted of forty-two negroes which had been illegally bought in 
Havana, Cuba. They were taken to the New Haven jail and 
held until it was decided to return them to Africa. 

DR. W. W. WELLINGTON. 

William Winthrop Wellington was born in Milford, Mass., 
and was prepared for college at the Milibrd schools and by W. 
H. Dale, M. D., of Boston, Mass. He graduated from the 
medical department ot the University of Vermont at Burlington. 
Dr. Wellington came to Terr\ ville nearly six years ago when 
Terryville was without a doctor, and when the la grippe epi- 
demic was at its height. He came from Hopkinton, Mass., and 
now occupies the house owned by Henry Fuller, opposite the 
Terryville Park. He has taken special and private instructions 
and courses in all branches of his profession. He is a member 
of the Litchfield Countv Aledical vSociety. He was appointed 
coroner's medical examiner in 1S94, and also elected town health 
officer. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' 
lodges. He was married to Mrs. Hattie AI. Davis, of Boston, 
Mass., in October, 1SS3. 

SAMUEL R. TERRELL. 

Samuel R. Terrell, now in his sixt\-ninth \ear, has been 
steadily in the employ of tiie Eagle Lock Companv for many 
years. He is a respected citizen and an honor to his town. He 
enlisted as a private in Company D, I9tii Regiment, C. V. I., 
afterward 2d Connecticut Heavy Artillery, August 7, 1862, 
serving three years. He was a good soldier, and while on duty 
was one of the cleanest and best got up men in the regiment. 
As such, he was rewarded at one time by receiving a furlough of 
twenty da3's. Mr. Terrell was very deaf and in consequence 
was considered unfitted for a soldier, but nevertheless, performed 
his duties well and faithfully. He was in the defences and went 
to the front with the resriment, assisting in tearing up the rail- 
road at North Anna, and was in several skirmishes. He was 
with Charles Guernsey, of Plymouth, when he was wounded, 
June 22, 1S64, and assisted in taking him oft" the field. Mr. 
Terrell is holding his own and bids fiir to live to a ripe old age. 

GAIUS PENN. 

Gains Fenn, son of Jason and Martha Fenn, was born in 
Plymouth, June 29, 17S4. He invented and obtained a patent 



336 



IIISIOIJV OF rLV.MOUlll. 




Algelon H. Tavlor 




Dr. W. VV VVL-ii,ii^i..ii 



BIOGRAPHICAI. SKETCHES. 337 

for the Fenn faucet about iSio, and with his brother, Jason 
Fenn, Jr., manufactured them in a two-story shop which stood 
on Town Hill about fifty feet south of the house now owned by 
Jason C. Fenn, the wood-house now used by Jason C. Fenn 
being made from timbers from said shop. In connection with 
the '■'Fenn Faucet" were also made round picture and looking 
glass frames, molasses gates, candlesticks and tumblers, the 
metal used being pewter, or fifty pounds block tin to 3oo pounds 
lead. The tool used to form the inside of the tumbler is still on 
the premises. The faucet business was removed to New Haven, 
afterwards to New York, where it was carried on by the Fenn 
family up to 1859, ^"'^ now wherever and by whom made they 
bear the name of " Fenn's." Gains Fenn died April 7, i8'^4. 

ELAM FENN. 

The memory of Elam Fenn will always be cherished by the 
community to which he belonged. He was born June 26, 
17971 the youngest but one in a family of nine children. 
His parents were Jason and Martha Potter Fenn. He was mar- 
ried February 13, 1816, to Lydia, daughter of Timothy Atwater. 
Mrs. Fenn died February 3, 1873, and eleven years later, Aug- 
ust 21, 1884, was followed by her husband. Mr. Fenn lived to a 
ripe old age and died in the same house where he was born. 
The aged couple celebrated their golden wedding February 13, 
1866. Four persons were present who attended the original 
ceremony fifty years before. Mr. Fenn lived an upright Chris- 
tian life and was one of the original forty-nine who organized 
the Congregational Church in Terryville. Of his home, now 
owned by his son, Jason C. Fenn, Rev. L. S. Griggs has 
written : 

" Town Hill, so called, is a widely extended, irregular, ele- 
vation of land, occupying a large area in the central portion of 
the town. It lies a little to the south of a direct line between the 
village of Plymouth Center and that of Terryville in the same 
town, two miles distant to the east. Ascending this hill by a 
road which crosses the highway at a point about a half mile west 
of Terryville, soon after reaching the broad upland at the sum- 
mit, we come to a dear, old, red house, on the left, standing 
thirty feet or so back from the road. As we write, here lies the 
deed by which Joab Camp conveys to Jason Fenn (both of the 
town of Watertown and parish of IMorthbury), several 'pieces or 
parcels of land, with the dwelling house and barn standing 
thereon ' — this very house. The date of this deed is the ' first 
day of April, in the year of our Lord, 1784, and of the Independ- 
ence of America, the eighth.' A portion of the covering put on 
a hundred years ago still remains in a good state of preservation 
— whitewood clapboards fastened with wrought iron nails. (The 
nails were made by hand, of iron purchased in Sharon, and 
brought to the vic'nity in the form of rods, bent so as to be con- 
veniently carried on horseback). Red — lovingly, warmlv, dur- 
ably red — is this house, according to the ancient custom of house 



33S 



ni.s'io):\' OF ri.^Mouri'. 





lUO(il{APJIlCAI. SK.[£'rClIES. 339 

painting. Erect and firm it stantls, with two-storied front, some- 
what modernized in window and chimney and piazza, but in 
form without and within much the same as of yore. With low 
ceilings, divided midway by broad board-cased beams projecting 
downward, the rooms of this old house stoop toward their occu- 
pants in cosy proximity. 

" Added interest is given to the premises on which this house 
stands by the fact that the first minister of this town, Rev. Mr. 
Todd, in i739i li'id his home upon them. In a lot on the slope 
northeast of the house, is the indentation in the ground, which 
marks the site of his home, now only a depression in the hillside. 
In 1876, the centennial of our country's independence, an elm 
tree was planted by one of the pastors of the town, upon that 
home site of the first pastor. At the present time there remains 
an apple tree — sole relic of an orchard planted in the days of Mr. 
Todd. A peculiar charm invests the Fenn homestead, in the 
wide outlook and beautiful panorama which it ever commands. 
Across the level expanse of the lots which lie in front of it, on 
the other side of the street, the far away highlands of the west 
are visible. Among the last homes of this part of earth, to 
which the setting sun flashes his evening farewell, is the old 
house on the hill. But far more extensive, comprehensive, and 
diversified, is the view to the east. Town Hill soon declines 
from the rear of the house, sloping steadily — yet with some hesi- 
tations of levei reaches — towards the valley where lies the village 
of Terryville — a mingled scene of houses and foliage, and factory 
walls and chimney tops ; and central to all and prominent above 
all, the white tower of the church, where, for nearlv fifty years, 
the subject of our story worshipped. This is the foreground. 
Beyond lies the wide landscape, swelling and sinking, shading 
from green to blue, until the sight, flving on its swift wings, 
touches the horizon soft as the air itself. The line of that hori- 
zon is twenty miles or so east of the Connecticut river — distant 
at least forty miles from the old house on the hill. In the great 
area between the signs of man are often seen, the church spire, 
the fragments of a village, the solitary home, the rising smoke 
marking factory or passing railroad train. 

"In this house on the hill was born the man whose memorv 
we cherish, and would prolong with greater distinctness and 
lastingness than the unaided recollection of men miifht efi'ect." 



ELAM ATWATER FEXN. 

Elam Atwater Fenn, son of Elam and Lydia Fenn, was born 
at Plymouth, Conn., March 2, 1821, and was married October 
15, 1842, to Miss Mary J. Barker of Bristol. Conn. ; removed 
to Terryville in 1843, and in 1841 went to New York to work 
for Jason and Gains Fenn, manufacturers of Fenn pewter fau- 
cets, and continued with them about eleven vears, when he 
removed to Michigan in 18^2, and engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness from i860 to 1871. While thus in bnsiness he built and 
presented the people with the church at Fennville. which for 



340 



HISIORV OF ri.VMGUTII. 




Elatn Fenii. 




Mrs niain '"eiin 



BlOGKAI'niCAI. SKETCH lis. 



341 



twenty years was the pioneer church ot'that section of the State, 
Fennville being named for him by vote of the citizens assembled. 
In ii>9i the church was burned and a more modern one now 
takes its phice in wiiich a memorial window was placed that 
reads: •'•In loving rememberance of Elam A. Fenn." When 
Mr. Fenn first went to Fennville he had just resigned as superin- 
tendent of the Sunday School of the Washington street M. E. 
Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., and he did much for the upbuilding 
of the Church and Sunday School at Fennville. The terrible 
Michigan fire wiped out of existence all his earthly possessions, 
which would, at that time, have netted him some ^20,000, since 
which time Mr. Fenn has residetl much of the time at Allegan, 
Mich., engaged in manufacturing and wood work. He has 
served the city in various ways as president, and now holds the 
office of city clerk. Mr. Fenn, who is now seventy-four years 
old has written some of his impressions of his life in Plymouth 
for this book as follows : 

" Plymouth Center, seventy years ago, was a very appropriate 
name for what was later, and, perhaps is at the present day, 
called Plymouth Hill. Not so much on account of geographical 
locality in the township, as fiom the fact that it was the real hub 
of the surrounding country even beyond the boundary of the 
township in every direction. It was a thrifty, enterprising mart 
for trade as well as the seat of learning. The old academy, 
which was located east of the green, was the university for all 
that region of country. The two great churches which stood 
upon that grand old Plymouth green were large indeed, and it 
seems to me now that their spires pointed heavenward as high 
as the ingenuity of man could get them. Then there were those 
majestic old buttonwood trees which adorned the green, sending 
out in every direction their numerous branches, some of them 
covering more ground than a church and shooting their topmost 
branches a little higher every year. Nothwithstanding their vigor 
and glory, they and the old church, of precious niemory to me, 
were removed, like the old father and mother, to make room for a 
new house of worship, the more attractive elm trees, and a 
more vigorous and progressive generation. 

"As I turn my thoughts backward I see a great multitude 
of |-)eople gathering at the Center upon the Sabbath day, coming 
from every point, the four roads which center at Plymouth being 
the grand trunk with numerous branches shooting ofl' and reach- 
ing out to the remotest and most obscure parts of the parish, and 
even bevond the limits of the township. Some came in wagons, 
some on horseback, but the great majority were on foot. The 
seating of the Presbyterian or Congregational Church, which was 
about half and half, where my father attended, is indelibly im- 
pressed upon my memory. At the time of mv earliest recollec- 
tion, seventy years ago. Luther Hart was the pastor. His 
place in the church was up two flights of stairs, securely shut in 
a strong box. three or four feet high, with a wheel or what was 
called a sounding board about eight feet in diameter suspended 
over his head. It is said wiiat is up must come down, and that 



34- 



msroKv OF plvmouih. 





7 




m 


'aT "* 




VjM->rA 


J-J^^^--^"'' 




«*iA >4sw^- 


^^/ 




* - •^^^^^Kr 


' ":^ -^v • 


#/i ? 1 


,v -„« ^^B 




^^^ , 


^SBHnHHHHBMMMMMlli^'Sr*'*''' 




.^^rtliiiH 



Old TodJ Apple Tree. 




niain A Feiin 



BIOGKAPHICAI. SKETCHES. 343 

was the method taken to get his voice clown to the people below. 
At the base of the puljMt, and in tiont sat the grave old deacons 
facing the congregation. Deacon Hemingway, lather of Stieet 
and Samuel ; Deacon Dunbar, father of Deacon Ferrand, were 
old men then and usually occupied that seat. The other deacons 
were young men and sat there only on communion seasons. 
They were Andrew vStoughton, Teitius D. Potter, Miles Smith, 
Deacon Tuttle, who lived near Wolcott, VVm. Jiidson of Ply- 
mouth flollow, and, I think, Lyman Baldwin. The old people 
whose faces loom up familiarly before me now are Deacon Hem- 
ingway, who lived north of what was called East Church ; Esqs. 
Lake Potter, Joel Langdon, Ransom Blakesley, Sr., Linus 
Blakesley, father of Deacon Milo Blakesley ; Captain Smith, 
father of Oliver and Deacon Miles Smith ; Captain Bull, Kau- 
dall Warner, Sr., Dr. Woodruff, Sr., Jcniatham Ludington, Mr. 
Primas (coloied). Captain Darrow, the undertaker ; Jonathan 
and Philip Pond, Ambrose Barnes, Lemuel Scovil, who lived on 
the place of the late Lyman ToUes; Captain Camp, father of 
Hiram, of the New Haven Clock company ; David Adkins, Sr., 
father of Mason, David and John ; John Osborn, father of Mrs. 
Elam 'Camp and Merchant Ives; Thaddeus Beach, Sr. , Jacob 
Lattimore, Stephen Brainerd, John Brown, Captain Wells, Sr., 
Daniel vSmith, who lived opposite the Wyllys Atwater place, 
father of Sherman and the late Hon. Erastus Smith of Hartford ; 
Jesse Weed, father of David ; Calvin Butler, Timothy Atwater, 
Truman Ives, Sr., Captain Stoughton, father of Deacon Andrew. 
No doubt there were others who do not materialize before me 
just now. 

"The most prominent of the next generation who appear 
before mv vision just now for recognition, a few of them at least, 
were: Ammi Darrow, Elam Camp, Benjamin Fenn, Seth 
Thomas, Henry Terry, Dr. Abraham Ives, Apollos Warner, 
Stephen Mitchell, 'Squire Mitchell, Edward Langdon, Lucius 
Bradlev, Mr. Coolev, Ransom Blakesley, Sr., Joel Blakesley, 
Rilev and William tves, John M. Beach, Solomon Griggs, Joel 
Griggs, Landa Beach, Daniel Beach, David Beach, Thaddeus 
Beach, Lemuel Beach, James Beach, Henry Beach, Daniel Ad- 
kins, David Adkins, Jr., Mason Adkins, John Adkins, Chaun- 
cey Bradley, Levi Scott, Wyllys Atwater, Timothy Atwater, 
Jr., Ferrand Dunbar, Mr. Gritlin, Street Hemingway, Samuel 
Hemingway, Wyllvs Morse, Nathan Beach, Milo Blakesley, 
Jacob Blakeslev, Erastus Blakeslev, Marcus Cook, Trvmian 
took, Benajah Camp, Hiram Camp, Joseph .Sutliff, John Sut- 
liff, Asahel Pardee, Lester Smith, Davitl Weed, Lyman Dun- 
bar, Hall Dunbar, Randall Matthews, Jared Blakesley, Elam 
Fenn, Jason Fenn, Jr., Eli Terry, Jr., Phineas Hitchcock, Ly- 
man Baldwin, Bennett Warner, Gains F. Warner, Orson Hall, 
Lyman Hall, Orren Brainerd, Jonathan Pond, Philip Pond, 
Wyrum Curtiss, Silas Hoadlev, Eli Potter, Linus Fenn. 

"Two noteworthy women were Mrs. David Sanford and 
Mrs. Daniel Lane, who lived upon the Wolcott road beyond 
Tolles station. vSeldom were the\' absent from their respective 



344 



HISTORY OF I'l.VMOL-TII. 




1 f... x:- • 



rw^h 






The Kenn Homestead. 




jason C Fenn. 



BIOGKAPillCAI. SKETCHES. 345 

churches at the Center upon the Sabbath da} . I have seen them 
going there through blinding snow and pelting rain, always on 
foot, and happy in the thought that tney were in the line of duty. 

" As a village, Thomaston was very small. Then it was 
Plymouth Hollow. Terryville had not then been thought of. 
I remember when the first clock shop was built by Eli Terry, 
Jr., and went with my father to the raising in about 1827. I 
can count on my fingers' ends every house between Robert John- 
son's, who had a little cooper shop at the place now owned by 
Elizur Fenn, to the fork of the road branching oft" from the turn- 
pike in Bristol at the Silas Carrington place. There was not a 
house from that point west until you came to the Claudius Allen 
place where the post office is now kept in Terryville. Where 
the upper lock shop now stands there was a saw mill (not ot 
modern invention however), owned by Claudius Allen. 

" Rev, Luther Hart was a familiar figure in every home in 
the whole parish, which in fact embraced the whole town. 
When Mr. Hart was a caller the dinner horn announced his 
coming, and all responded to the call and gathered for counsel 
and prayer. If any one was sick it w^as as much expected that 
Mr. Hart would be notified as that a physician would be called, 
and often he would be seen coming (always riding a small bay 
hoise) and arrive before the physician. When watchers were 
needed to care for the sick Mr. Hart always saw to it that they 
were provided. Before the morning sermon on Sunday he 
would mention the name of the sick person and ask, 'Who will 
watch to-night .' ' when some one would arise and he would say 
one is provided. Who Monday night ? and so on until watchers 
were provided for the week. Nearly every Sunday there was 
one or more notices read like this : ' Joseph Brown is sick and 
desires the prayers of the church that he may be restored to 
health, but if otherwise determined that he may be resigned and 
prepared for the Divine will.' After the death and burial of a 
person it was expected that the mourning family would be 
together in their pew the next Sabbath, before the morning 
prayer. Mr. Hart would mention the death of the person and 
say, ' The afflicted family (and here they would arise, and other 
svmpathizing friends) desire the prayers of the church that this 
aftiiction may be sanctified to their spiritual and eternal good.' 
Then he would mention the names of those friends who had 
risen with the family and say, ' They desire to join in the 
request.' At one time a deaf old couple mistook the reading of 
a marriage notice for that of a death notice. They were tender 
hearted people, and it was almost a universal custom for them to 
arise as sympathizing with bereaved ones. On this occasion 
they arose as the notice of marriage was read, when Mr. Hart, 
true to his nature, with a broad smile, said : ' Ephraim Hough 
and wife desire to join in sympathy with them.' The evidences 
of solemnity were not apparent upon the faces of the congregation. 

" But the unwritten history of Plymouth and the old church, 
100 years ago, will not be revealed by human lips, as eye wit- 
nesses are but few that can testifv of their own knowledge who 



346 HISTORY OF PIAMOUTH. 

were the occu^jants of tliose homes, tlie location of which is 
marked with ccilar walls ol' moss-covered stones. I can remem- 
ber live generations in my own family who have attended church 
in Plymouth — .ny grandparents, father and mother, myself and 
daughter, my granddaughter, Mrs. Crane and her daughter, who 
have been guests of their aunt, Mrs. Cornelia Stoughton, the 
past winter." 

JASON C. FExXN. 

Jason C. Fenn. judge of probate and town clerk of Plymouth, 
son of Elam and Lydia Atwater Fenn, was born October 27, 
1838, in the house now owned by him, and which was purchased 
by nis grandfather, Jason Fenn, in 17S4, situated on Town Hill. 
He received a common school and academic education, and for 
thirty years was clerk in stores. He is a member and deacon of 
the Terryville Congregational Church. He represented the 
town in the House in 18S0; has served the town as selectman 
seven yeai's, the last year being in 1S90, when a building was 
provided in Terryville tor the transaction of town business, and 
January, 1891, having been elected town clerk, he removed the 
town records and papers from Plymouth Center to the new town 
building. January ^, 1893, he assumed the duties of judge of 
probate, and removed the probate records and papers from Plv- 
mouth Center, l)oth of which offices he still holds. 

Mr. Fenn is the originator of the Fenn patent bridge, which 
is constructed of old railroad iron, unsurpassed for strength, 
cheapness and durabilit}', and tasty in appearance. Several of 
these bridges have been built over the streams in Plymouth. 
With the exception of the plank flooring and a few compara- 
tively small castings, the construction is entirely of old rails. 

IIKV. I.EVERETT GRIGGS, D. D. 

There seems a propriety in the insertion in this book of some 
account of the Rev. Leverett Griggs, D. D., wlio was for nearly 
fourteen years (Februarv, 1856 — December, 1869), pastor of the 
Congregational church of Bristol, and who resided in that town 
nearly twenty-seven vears until his death, January 28, 1883. In 
periods when the Congregational church of Terryville, was 
without a pastor, he was often called upon for ministerial service 
in that parish, at one time supplying the pulpit for many Sab- 
baths in succession. And once, in view of representations made 
to him by members of the church in Terryville, he had in serious 
consideration whether he would encourage that church to extend 
a call to himself to become its pastor. And it was largely the 
result of the mutual regard subsisting between the church of 
Terryville and himself, that his son. Rev Leverett S. Griggs, 
became its pastor for a season. 

He was born in Tolland, Conn., Nov. 17, 1808, the son of 
Captain Stephen and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Griggs. His grand- 
father, Ichabod Griggs, Jr., who was a citizen of Tolland, died 
a soldier in the Revolutionarv war, September 30, 1776, aged 32 
years, and was buried in New Rochelle, N. Y, He was the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIKS. 347 

youngest of six children. He married August 2S, 1S33, Catha- 
rine, daughter of Hon. Elisha (graduate S.'ale, 1796,) and Ce- 
linda (Baker) Stearns of Tolland. She was the mother of six 
children, and died in Millbury, Mass., March 10, 1S4S. The 
following are the names of her children, viz : Maria, born July 
19, 1S34, married to J. Frank Howe, December 31, 1S57; 
Catharine, born January 26, 1S36, married to Benezet H. Bill, 
November 2, 1859; Leverett Stearns, born February 16, 1S3S, 
married to Cornelia Little, July 13, 1864; Elizabeth Celinda, 
born March 5, 1840, married to Harlow A. Gale, June 13, 1859; 
John Lawrence, born April 21, 1843, died a membeer of Com- 
pany G, i6th regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, September i, 
1862; Joseph Emerson, born July 13, 1847, married to Ellen 
M. Little, January 3, 1S67. He married November 30, 1S48, 
Charlotte Ann Stearns, sister of the former wife, who became 
the mother of four children. 

Dr. Griggs was born and reared upon a farm. He had but 
little promise of long life in childhood, being a great sutierer 
from salt rheum. So severely was he afflicted with that distem- 
per in infancy that a neighboring housewife advised his mother to 
give him something to put him out of his misery, saying: "He 
cannot live, and if he does live he never will know anything ;" an 
opinion he often quoted in later years, with merriment, some- 
times remarking that he ought to be patient with his infirmity 
and thankful for it, because it was the occasion of his being 
deemed unequal to tlie work of a farmer, and, therefoie, had an 
influence in opening the wav for his reception of the boon of a 
collegiate education. 

When he was young "general training" of the militia was 
the great day of all the year for the boys. Then he wasgiven six 
and a quarter cents to buy ginger-bread with. Visiting his native 
town in the later years of life, he remarked when passing a 
certain house: "Here lived so and so, he used to get drunk, 
invariablv, on training da}-. It was expected, as a matter of 
course, and the boys did not think the day complete if he and 
another man from the northeast part of the town, did not strip 
and go out into a lot to fight, so drunk that they could not harm 
each other much." 

He was prepared for college in pait by Rev. Ansel Nash, 
pastor of the church in Tolland from 1S13 to 1831, who gave 
him instruction for fifty cents a week. As he was applying 
himself to his book one day in the " study," the good pastor and 
w^ise tutor came across the room to him, and putting his hand 
upon the boy's shoulder, said : " Seest thou a man diligent in his 
business ? he shall stand before kings ; he shall not stand before 
mean men " Those words of encouragement electrified the lad 
and liad a lifelong efiect of good upon him. After further tuition 
in Monson Academy, Mass, he entered college in 1825, gradu- 
ating with honor in 1829. It was in the earlier part of his course 
at Yale that he gave his heart to God. He united with the col- 
lege church March 2, 1827, and continued a member of that 
church through life, a fact which correctly reports his strong at- 



34S 



msroKV OF PI.^Mc)U^lI. 




Rev. Leverett Gritjcrs 




-J C Griggs 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCUKS. 349 

tachment for Yale college. He taught for a year as an assistant 
at Mount Hope Seminary, a school for boys in Baltimore, Md., 
and then pursued the study of theology at Andover and New 
Haven, acting as tutor in Yale College while studying theology 
in the Yale Divinity School. Declining a call to the North 
church of New Haven, he was ordained and installed pastor of 
the Congregational church of North Haven, October 30, 1S33. 
His college room-mate and very intimate friend. Rev. Edwin R. 
Gilbeit, had been settled in Wallingford, the next parish on the 
north, in October, 1S33. Nearly twelve happy and fruitful years 
were spent in North Haven. A church and parsonage were 
built. There were accessions to the membership of the church 
aggi'egating two hundred and twentv-six. After the lapse of 
fifty years the name of Dr. Griggs is still "• like ointment poured 
forth," in the parish of North Haven. 

He was settled subsequently in New Haven, pastor of the 
Chapel street church, now the Church of the Redeemer ; in Mill- 
bur}', Mass., and in Bristol, Conn. His ministry was largely 
blessed in all these places. His a/ina iiiatcr con^GVYed the degree 
of Doctor of Divinity upon him in 1S68. Many of his sermons 
and other productions have been preserved in printed form. He 
was a man of surpassingly genial disposition, full of the spirit of 
kindness, and endowed with exceptional tact in dealing with 
people. There was fitness to himself in what he wrote of his 
mother soon after her death in 1845 : " She wae one of the most 
* * cheerful and even tempered persons that ever lived." He 
had the gift of utterance, always saying with apparent ease that 
which was happilv suited to the occasion. At the same time he 
was a plain and faithful preacher of righteousness, fulfilling to a 
large degree the command. " Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all 
long suftering and doctrine." Of his countenance, thus wrote a 
brother minister who had long known him: " Few ever had 
such a loving, speaking, sweet face; itself a letter of credit." 
He served for about a quarter of a century as acting school vis- 
itor in Bristol, and he esteemed it " one of the highest honors " 
he "ever received," that the freemen of Bristol assembled in 
town meeting, October 8, 188 1, unanimously recommended that 
the selectmen, in view of the great value of his services in " elev- 
ating and advancing to increased usefulness our common schools," 
"to abate his taxes as long as he continues his residence with 
us." He was stricken with partial paralysis, July 4, 1881, a 
disaster which was hastened apparentlv by the shock received 
from the tidings of the attempted assassination of President Gar- 
field. A second attack of the malady, October 29 of the same 
vear, prostrated him completely, but a year and three months 
elapsed before he passed awav, departing this life on a Sabbath 
evening, as he had hoped might be the fact. It was the evening 
of January 28, 1SS3. 

REV. LEVERETT STEARNS GRIGGS. 

Rev. Leverett Stearns Griggs, who is now located at Ivor\ - 
ton, is the son of Rev. Leverett Griggs, D. D., and Mrs. Catli- 



>x-)^ 



IllSIOKV OF i'i,v.mol;i'h. 



mine Stearns Griggs, and was born in North Haven, Conn., 
February i6, 1S3S, his fiither being at the time pastor of the Con- 
gregational Church in that place. He is the third of ten children, 
the four youngest being the children of a second mother, Mrs. 
Charlotte Stearns Griggs. He prepared for college at the High 
School in Millbury, Mass., graduated at Amherst College in 
1S60; studied theology at Yale and Lane theological seminar- 
ies, 1S60-1S63; was ordained June 33, 1S64; was married July 
13, 1864, to INIiss Cornelia Little, daughter of Rev. Henry and 
Mrs. Susan N. Little, of Madison, Ind. ; was Home Missionary 
pastor at Spring Valley, Minn., 1S63-1S66; at Owatonna, Minn., 
1866-1869; pastor at Lowell, Mich., 1870-1873; at Collinsville, 
Conn., 1872-1874; at Terryville, 1874-18S7; became pastor of 
the Congregational Church of Centerbrook and Ivoryton, Conn., 
1S87. I'he children of Mr. and Mrs. Griggs are seven, John 
Cornelius Griggs, Ph. D., George Day (died 1S86), Jessie 
Leveretta. Alice Warner, Katharine Charlotte, Henry Little and 
Susan Little. The three last named were born in Terryville. 



JOHN COKXELIUS GRIGGS. 

John Cornelius Griggs, son of Rev. L. S. and Mrs. C. L. 
Griggs, was born in Spring Valley, Fillmore County, Minn., 
.September 29, iS6^. The family having removed to the east he 
began to attend school in Collinsville, Conn., where his father 
was pastor in that village ; was afterward a pupil for years in the 
schools of Terryville; worked for one year in the factory of the 
Eagle Lock Co., and after a three years' course in the public 
high school of Hartford, graduated from that institution in 1885. 
Entering Yale University the same year, he graduated in due 
course of time, a member of the class of 1889. He was for the 
two years immediately following, an instructor in the Free 
Academy of Norwich. He married, July 33, 1890, Miss Anne 
Cooke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Cooke, of Yalesville, 
Conn. He went abroad in the summer of 1891 for purposes of 
study and training in the art of vocal music. The larger part 
of the two years passed in Europe by hiinself and famih' were 
spent in Leipsic, where a son, Leverett Griggs, was born 
]March 3^, 1892. Having completed a prescribed course of 
study in the university of Leipsic, Mr. Griggs received from 
that institution, in 1893, the degree of Ph. D., W(?^//r? r///// lande. 
He returned to the United States the same year, and having 
already accepted an appointment on the staff of instructors in the 
Metropolitan College of Music in New York City, soon entered 
upon duty there, in which position he still remains. 

THOMAS BUXVEI.I.. 

The veteran teamster of Plymouth, Thomas Bunnell, was a 
familiar figure for fiftv-two years in his line of business. He was 
born in Burlington, this State, November 9, 1806, and was the 
youngest son of Nathaniel Bunnell, who, at tlie age of twenty. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 35 I 

went to New London, enlisted in the Continental arm_y and was 
present on the memorable "6th ol" September when Arnold 
burnt the town." He came to Terryville in 1827, and taught 
school in the old red school house, afterward taking up the busi- 
ness of carrying freight, the goods consigned to him coming 
through the old canal to Plainville, and from there distributed 
through the country between this place and Bristol Basin, as 
Plainville was then called. 

His teaming business dates from the year 1S43, when he 
drove to Hartford every other dav for freight, and on the inter- 
vening days made a trip to Plainville. This he continued to do 
until 1S55, when the railroad pushed its way out to this region. 
He then established the teaming industry between Terryville 
and Thomaston, and daily carried loads of merchandise over the 
hills of Litchfield county from 1S55 ^^ ^^^7i when he transferred 
his business to Arthur C. Bunnell, his son Besides the regular 
freight business mentioned, Mr. Bunnell did all the team work 
for manufacturers in this place for many years, and his life is 
thus closely allied to the business history of the community. He 
was first employed by H. VVelton & Co., next for Lewis & Gay- 
lord, and then for James Terry & Co. 

After the Eagle Lock Company was formed, he did all their 
teaming for nearly twenty years, and for a number of years all 
the teaming for Andrew Terrv & Co. He was a citizen uni- 
versally esteemed by the entire commvmity. He left several sons 
and grandsons who are natural born teamsters, and carry on a 
good business in this place and Bristol. 

LYMAN TOLLES. 

Lyman Tolles, son of Lyman and Marcia Russell Tolles, 
was born in Plymouth, March 16, 1S03, and died May 27, 1S94. 
He was twice married. His first wife was Almira, daughter of 
Luther and Martha Thomas Andrews. Li 1827 he settled on a 
farm in the southeast part of the town, where he lived until his 
death. His second wife was Jeamiette Howe. Mr. Tolles was 
the father of ten children : 

Robert married Mary R. Graham of Windham. N. Y , 
moved to Wisconsin in 1858, and was one of the pioneer settlers 
of Eau Claire, and with his brother-in-law foimded a lumber 
and machine mill, which now is a large and flourishing business 
plant. He died in 18791 leaving a wife and two sons, Charles 
L. and DeVVitt G., who still reside there. 

Martha A. married Ralph H. Guilford of Waterbury, who 
settled in Cheshire and engaged in the manufacture of buttons, 
and was secretary and treasurer of the brass mill for a number of 
years until his death in 1886. They had four children, Irving 
G., Aimie A., Mary L., Thomas H. 

Martin worked in Terryville in the lock shop for several 
years and went to Beloit. Wis., in 1S56. In 1859 he went to 
Eureka, Kan., where he married Margaret Turner. He died at 
Cedar Vale, Kan., in 1876. 



352 



HISroUV OF lM,\.M()LrH. 




Tliomas Bunnell. 




L\man Toll 



BIOGUAPHICAI. SKETCHES 3C3 

Mary J. inanied Oliver Baily, who settled in Terryville 
as contractor and builder, and who died in iS66, leaving a wife 
and one daughter, Julia A. 

Harriet A. resides at the old homestead, and for many vears 
has been an invalid. 

Henry married Harriet E. Prince, who died in 1SS2. He 
died in 1SS9, leaving four children, Frederick L., Nellie P., 
Nathan, Martin. 

Samuel L. remained at home to care for his father and the 
farm, and still resides there, its present owner. 

Sarah L. married William H. Basham of Naugatuck, who 
have four children, William L., Hattie A., Essie J., Sarah E. 

Esther M. married Milo Tomlinson of Plymouth. 

Norie E. married Newton B. Eddy of Bristol, who moved 
to New Haven, worked for the New Haven Clock Company 
several years, but is now engaged in farming. They have two 
children, George L., Carrie B. 

Mr. Tolles was a man of great activity, strong and vigorous 
in mind and body, and with the exception of failing eyesight, 
retained all his faculties until his last illness. In 1S72 he accom- 
panied his son Robert to his home in Wisconsin, visiting friends 
on the way in New York, Pittsburg and Cleveland, O., where 
his only sister then resided. He was interested in all the events 
of the day of a social nature. He delighted in gathering his 
children and grandchild'en around him, and the birthday and 
Thanksgiving feasts under the paternal roof will be among the 
pleasant memories of their lives. 

MILO TOMLINSON. 

Milo Tomlinson was born at Mt. Toby, Plymouth, in May, 
1853. He was twice married, his first wife being Harriet A. 
White. They had one child, Mabel E., born in 1S7S. He 
married in 1S83 for his second wife Esther M. Tolles, daughter 
of Lyman Tolles. They had four children, Amy J., Irving M.. 
Robert v., George L. Mr. Tomlinson died in 1892. He was 
a stirring and enterprising farmer, and owned a large farm, his 
residence being nearly in the center of a fiftv acre meadow. 

CORNELIUS R. WILLIAMS AND FAMILY. 

Cornelius R. Williams was born in Rocky Hill, Conn., 
August 7, 1S05. His mother was a Robbins. Both families 
have been in the Connecticut valley below Hartford for half a 
dozen generations. He left home at the age of seventeen and 
worked in New York City. For several years he was a clock 
manufacturer in Unionville, Conn., and Alton, 111. He became 
a resident of Plymouth about 1847, residing first on Town Hill 
near the Elam Fenn place. In 18^0 he removed to the house in 
the eastern part of Terryville, which was his home, with the 
exception of a few years spent in Rocky Hill, until his death, 
August 28, 1S80, aged seventy-five years. He married Caroline 
Hooker, September 4, 1S31. She was a daughter of Ira Hooker, 
long time a deacon in the Bristol Congregational Church, and 



354 



lllSrcJIJV OF PI.V.MOUJ'H. 




Milo Tomliiisoii. 




Rev Moseley H. Williams 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 355 

was a descendent in the sixth generation ol Rev. Thomas 
Hooker, who became the first minister of the Center Church, 
Hai'tford, about 1633. Mrs. Williams was a sister of Mrs. Julia 
E. Stoughton, widow of Andrew Stoughton. Several children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, of whom only three sur- 
vive — Rev. Horace R. Williams of Michigan, Rev. Moseley H. 
Williams of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Fannie A. Mix, wife of 
Elisha Mix, Jr., of Stamford. 

Rev. Horace R. Williams was born in Farmington, Conn., 
in 1S35, '^"^ came with the family to Plymouth when thirteen 
years old. He attendend school in the Terryville Institute, when 
it was first opened, but completed his preparation for college at 
Kimball Union Academy, IMeriden N. H. He graduated from 
Amherst College in 1S60, and, after teaching one year, from 
Union Theological Seminary in 1S64. In May of that same 
year he was ordained to the ministery in Terryville, by a council 
called by the Congregational Church there, of which church he 
was a member, and went immediately to the pastorate of the 
Congregational Church in Almont, Mich., where he remained 
sixteen years. After that he was pastor in Vermontville six 
years, in Clinton seven years, and is now pastor in Richmond, 
all these places being in the same state — Michigan. He married 
Amelia R. Bulkeley of Rocky Hill, Conn., in 1S65. Her 
grandfather graduated at Yale College in 1796. They have two 
children, Walter B. Williams, now of Stamford, Conn., and 
Neil Hooker Williams, who recently graduated at the University 
of Michigan. 

Rev. Moseley H. Williams was born in Farmington, Conn., 
December 23, 1839. ^^ ^^^ ^ ^°y ^^ seven when the family 
came to Plymouth. His first experience in a Terryville school 
was under Mrs. Allen, wife of R. D. H. Allen, who was then 
principal. He attended school at Kimball Union Academy, 
Meriden, N. H., and W^illiston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., 
and spent four years at Yale College, graduating in the class of 
1864. After a theological course of three years at Union Theo- 
logical Seminary, New York, and Andover Seminary, ]SIassa- 
chusetts, he was a pastor in Philadelphia, Penn., Brooklvn, N. 
Y. , and Portland, Me. Since 1S79 he has been in the editorial 
work of the American Sunday-School Union in Philadelphia, 
and assisted in the preparation of Dr. Schaft''s Dictionary of the 
Bible, Dr. Rice's People's Commentaries on the Gospels and 
other works. He married Emma V. Bockius of Philadelphia, 
and has four children, of whom the oldest graduated at the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, and took a theological course at Yale 
Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminarv. 

Fannie A. Williams married Elisha Mix. Jr., December 14, 
i875. They have resided in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, New 
Britain and Stamford, and have five children. 

THOMAS HIGGIXS. 

Thomas Higgins has been a resident of Terrvville for about 
forty-three years. He was one of the three Catholics who met 



356 



llISrOKV OF in.VMOUTH. 




■Ti 4i-t^- 




Thomas F Higgins. 




William Robinson's Residence. 



HIOGHAPHICAL SKP:TCHKS. 



357 



m the Philip C. Ryan residence after Father O'Neill of Water- 
bury was engaged to preach there. Mr. Higgins is now about 
seventy years of age. One of his sons, Thomas F. Higgins, was 
appointed postmaster of Terryville in 1S94. When appointed, 
he bought out the confectionery and stationery business of 
VV. E. Fogg, and moved it into the building opposite the hotel. 
He graduated from Eastman's College, Foughkeepsie, N. Y. 
Sarah A. devotes much of her time to assisting Mr. Higgins in 
the post office. James B. is employed by the Eagle Lock Com- 
pany. Michael C. is superintendent of a life insurance company 
in Norwich, Conn. Lizzie C. is engaged as school teacher in 
Thomaston. Joseph J. is a physician and surgeon in New 
York City, and graduated from the Physicians and Surgeons' 
College of New York. 

CHAUNCEY BRADLEY. 

Chauncey Bradley, who died May 10, 1S86, was one of 
Plymouth's most respected residents. He lived a quiet life on 
his farm, situated about the center of the town, and was for 
many years assessor. He did his duty conscientiously and well. 
He lived to the ripe old age of seventy-eight years, his wife 
having died several years before. Mrs. David W. Eggleston, 
who, with her husband, resides in Bristol, was the only child 
of this union. 

WILLIAM ROBINSON. 

William Robinson came to Terryville about seven vears ago, 
from Thomaston, and bought what is known as the Griffin place, 
situated about one mile northwest of Terryville Center, from 
Charles Dayton. He has since then carried on the milk busi- 
ness, increasing it by the purchase of the milk route of Charles 
Allen. He keeps from fourteen to sixteen head of stock. He 
also does a great deal of market gardening. Pleasant View 
Farm, as Mr. Robinson's place is called, furnishes an excellent 
view of the surrounding country. Mr, Robinson is a native of 
Canada, and married Miss Alaggie FIull of Canada in 1S90, by 
whom he has one daughter. The property now owned by Mr. 
Robinson has been obtained by hard work, prudence and 
economy. 

AUGUSTUS C. SHELTON. 

Augustus Canby Shelton, the founder and senior member of 
the firm of Shelton & Tuttle, carriage manufacturers, in the 
town of Plymouth, Conn., was born in Plymouth, February 7, 
1S16, and died in that town, August 37, iSSo, at the age of 
sixtv-four years. He was of the fifth generation in descent from 
Daniel Shelton, the founder of the New England branch of the 
family, who came to this country from England about 16S7, and 
settled in Stratford (now Huntington), in this State. 

Daniel, the original ancestor of the New England families 
bearing the vShelton name, came from the town of Rippon, Der- 
byshire County, England. He was one of the non-resident 



358 



JIISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Philip C Ryan 




The Rvan Homestead. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3^9 

proprietors of Watcrbury, as appears by the grant of Governor 
Saltonstall, bearing date of October 28, 1720. He had nine 
children, seven sons and two daughters. His fourth son, Sam- 
uel, was born in 1704. He had fourteen children, eight sons 
and six daughters. His third son, Daniel, was born June 16, 
1 741. He had nine children, five sons and four daughters. His 
fourth son, Joseph, was born October 20, 17S3. He had eleven 
children, live sons and six daughters. Of these sons Augustus 
Canby was the second, being the fourth child. His middle name 
he took from his mother, whose maiden name was Martha 
Canby. 

The original proprietor of the Shelton estate, in what is now 
the town of Plymouth, was David vShelton, the grandson of the 
original Daniel, and the grandfather of Augustus C. His estate 
lay in what is now called Todd Hollow, and was an extensive 
one, comprising some three thousand acres. He also owned 
land in Stamford and Kent. 

Joseph Shelton, the father of Augustus, was a merchant 
and farmer. Augustus' early years were passed on his father's 
farm, where he acquired those habits of industry which charac- 
terized him through life. At the usual age he went to Harvvin- 
ton to learn the trade of wheelwright, serving his time there with 
Lewis Smith. From there he went to New Haven, where he 
worked three years in the carriage establishment of George 
Hoadley. He then returned to Plymouth, and in 1S37 entered 
upon the business of carriage making on his own account. For 
the first three years he worked in a small building now occupied 
as a dwelling house. At that time the trade was mainly south- 
ern. In 1S55 Mr. Shelton took in Bvron Tuttle. For several 
years the business was prosperous. For six years all the carri- 
ages made by the firm, went west. The southern business was 
broken up by the war, while the western trade was improved. 
This continued until 1S6S, when the business began to wane, 
and in 1870 the company sold out the Chicago establishment, 
and the partnership, so far as the business of manufacturing was 
concerned, was dissolved, the partners still holding the property 
together. From that time until his death, Mr. Shelton carried 
on the business in a limited wav. 

Mr. Shelton was married November 19, 1858, to Ellen A. 
Crook. His children are: John Canby, born May 14, i860, 
died September 13, i860; Mar}' Jane, born September 29, 1862; 
Frances Pauline, born June 9, 1S65 ; Ellen Augusta, born May 
20, 1870; Milla Canby, born August 6, 1876. 

The immediate occasion of Mr. Shelton's death was a slight 
wound in the finger, the inflammation of which proved fatal. 



PHII,IP C. RYAN. 



Philip C. Ryan and family came to Terryville about 1S45, 
and was the first Irish family that settled in the town. His 
brother, Denis Ryan, who came here some time before him, 
was the first singfle Irishman to make Plvmouth his home. He 



36o 



IlIsrOHY OF PI.YMOU'IH. 




William B Ells. 




Richard Baldwin's Residence, Terrvville. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 361 

was engaged on the farm at Town Hill, owned by Mr. Brainard, 
and was soon alter married to Mr. Brainard's daughter, Miss 
Nora, by whom he had three children, one son and two daugh- 
ters. Many amusing stories aie now told by the older inhab- 
tants ot the town in connection with tlie Hrst appearance of 
Mr. Ryan in the place. The name of Denis Ryan is the hrst 
name of a foreigner that appears on the town voting list, and 
both his and Philip C. Ryan's appear often on the old land 
records. Denis was also the first Irishman buried in the town, 
and upon his death, Philip C. bought and presented the land, 
which afterwards became known as "the Catholic Cemetery. The 
old homestead, of which a picture appears here, is situated on the 
street nearly opposite the old Andrew Fenn place, and in it 
Father O'Neil of Waterbury held the first Catholic services that 
were held in the town. Before that Philip C. made many trips 
on foot to New Haven and back to attend the Catholic Church 
there, and at other times Philip, Denis and James, who came 
here soon after the arrival of Denis, all attended the Congrega- 
tional services here. Upon the death of Philip, which occurred 
in 1864, in the forty-ninth year of his age, his funeral was 
attended by the pastor and members of the Congregational 
Church. The children of Philip C. Ryan are: John D. of 
Middletown, Conn., Fallah of Brooklyn, N. Y., Mary Ann of 
Terryville, James F. of New York City, Catherine of Water- 
burv, Nora of New York City, Delia of New Britain, and 
Philip C. of Terryville. 

MAJOR W. H. ELLS. 

Major William B. Ells, who was one of Terryville's best 
known and respected residents, died May ii, 1S93. 

He \vas born in Milford, February 14, 1S40, and was the 
son of Harvey and Julia Ells of that town. When a young man 
he came to Terryville to live. He entered the Eagle Lock Com- 
pany's works, and for over thirty-five years he had been a faith- 
ful worker for that company's best interest, as well as the welfare 
of Terryville. Early in the war he left his work bench in the 
old "upper" shop to fight for the preservation of the Union. 
Enlisting May 23, 1861, he became sergeant of Company I, 
First Connecticut Volunteer Artillery, then the Fourth Connect- 
icut Infantry. He was promoted to captaincy March 7, 1S64, 
and served through the first Peninsular campaign with distinc- 
tion. He was transferred to the Nineteenth Connecticut Volun- 
teers (afterwards the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery), at 
Alexandria, Va., September 24, 1862. 

He was present at the siege of Yorktown and battles of 
Hanover Court House, Chickahominy, Gaines's Mill, Malvern, 
Hill and Cold Harbor, where he was promoted to major. He 
was acknowledged to be the best drill ofiicer and disciplinarian 
in the whole regiment and was a favorite with Colonel Kellogg, 
who commanded the regiment at the battle of Cold Harbor, 
where in June i, 1S64, Major Ells commanded the Third Bat- 
talion of the regiment and was wounded by a shot in one leg, 



362 



niSrORV OF PLVxVlOUTIi 




Henr\- E. Hinmaii 




AiUrew GavinrJ's Residence. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 363 

which made hun a cripple for many years, and from tlie ejects 
of which he never recovered. 

As he was a brave and true soldier in war, so had he been a 
good citizen and neighbor in time of peace. He became a mem- 
ber of the Terryville Congregational Church in 1858, and was 
one of its most generous and steadfast supporters. Fur a number 
of years he was superintendent of the Congregational Sunday 
School, and during the last year of his life, chairman of the 
Ecclesiastical Society. He was a member of Gilbert W. 
Thompson Post, G. A. R., of Bristol, and vmtil his disabled leg 
compelled the cessation of active service, he took pait in every 
public military function of the post. He was an enthusiastic 
member of the Army and Navy Club and had made plans to at- 
tend the club's annual dinner when his fatal illness intervened. 
He was connected with Union Lodge of Masons of Thomaston, 
Sedgwick Council of American Mechanics and Terry Lodge of 
United Workmen of this place. For several years Major Ells 
was superintendent of the Eagle Lock Company. In all matters 
relating to church, school or town, he felt a deep interest, and 
his death was a severe blow to all in the village and a loss which 
was felt by every surviving member of the Second Connecticut 
Heavy Artillery, be he officer or private. 

Major Ells' wife was formerly Miss Julia Goodwin of 
Terryville, whom he married shortly after the war, and to whom 
were born three daughters, Hattie, Gertrude and Julia. 
A brother and two sisters also survive him. 



HENKV E. HINMAN. 

Henry E. Hinman, the first selectman of Plymouth, was 
born in Harwinton, August 37, 1836. Plis place of residence 
has been divided between here and Harwinton during his lile. 
He is a son of Isaac and Lorinda Hinman, and his mother, who 
is now eighty-five years of age, resides with him at his residence 
in East Plymouth. He was elected first selectman last Fall, and 
has been a member of the board of selectmen three terms. He 
married Carolina C. Roberts of Burlington, by whom he has 
three children, Minnie, Irene and Olive L. Hinman. 

B. H. SUTLIFFE. 

Bennett H. Sutlifie was born in Plymouth, September 16, 
1835, and is a direct descendant of Joiin Sutlifie, who came 
from England and who lived in Branford in 1695, and who 
came to VVaterbury soon after and settled in Plymouth in 1730- 
By the possession of old deeds it is shown that all the land in the 
vicinity of Reynold's and Terry's Bridge at one time belonged to 
the Sutlifies, and known as Sutlifie Hollow. A cane is now in 
the possession of Mr. Sutlifie which belongs to his son John, 
and which bears the inscription, " Captain John Sutlifie, 1765." 
This cane has been handed down for seven generations and now 
belongs to the seventh John Sutlifie. Bennett Sutlifie spent his 



364 



HISTORY OF PI.YMOUIII. 




Bennett H. Suflitte 




Bennett H. Sutlilfe's Residence 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 365 

early life on the farm, afterwards was engaged in the clock shop ; 
he then moved to New Haven, where he remained about six 
years. Returning to Plymouth, he again entered the clock shop 
and built a house on Marine street, which he still owns. His 
present residence is on a farm of 165 acres, which he bought in 
1877, and on which he has lived since that time. The affairs of 
his farm are conducted on business principles; therefore he is 
one who makes farming pay. His herd of registered Jerseys is 
one of the best. He has all the latest machinery in his barn, 
including a hay-fork, power for cutting feed and devices for 
watering cattle. On the farm, he has all the latest machines for 
use in planting and cultivating his crops, also machines for use 
in haying, from the time the hay is cut till it is in the barn. 
For grinding grain and sawing, he has built a mill. In politics, 
he is a staunch Republican, having been with the party since its 
commencement. 

Mr. Sutlifle has great regard for his ancestors, and when 
the old cemetery was removed in Thomaston, he superintended 
the removal of all their bodies, eighteen in number, and placed 
them in a lot in the new cemetery purchased for that purpose. 
He has, in his possession, land records and lay-outs of land 
belonging to the Sutlit^e family, beginning in 1695, under 
Sovereign Lord William, King of England, Scotland, France 
and Ireland, and down through the kings till the present time. 

Mr. Sutliffe is a member of the Congregational Church, and 
is proud of its history and of the fact that his ancestor, John 
Sutlifle, was one of its founders seven generations ago. 

Air. Sutlifle is serving his third term as selectman. He was 
married December 31, 1870, to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry 
Kirk, of Waterbury.' His children are: Edith E., born October 
10, 187^; Daisy B., born April 4, 1879, and John Thomas, 
born December 26, 1882. 

JOEL BLAKESLEE. 

Joel Blakeslee was b^rn in that part of Plymouth now called 
Thomaston, September 2, 181 2, He died in Bridgeport, Conn., 
January 18, 1895. The Blakeslee family in Plymouth descend- 
ed from Samuel Blakeslee, wdio was a planter in Guilford, 
Conn., in i6:;o, but who afterwards removed to New Haven, 
where he died in 1672. His grandson, Moses Blakeslee, moved 
from New Haven to Waterbury (Northbury, afterwards called 
Plymouth), about 1739, and settled on land previously "laid 
out" to him on what is now known as Town Hill. His house 
stood near the residence of the late Oliver Stoughton. He was 
appointed a deacon in the Congregational Church at Plymouth 
at its organization in 1740, and was an active and influential 
member of the church and the community. 

From him, Joel, the subject of this sketch, descended 
through John, born in 1725 ; Joel, born 1 752, and Ransom, born 
1781. Of the generation on the stage at the time of the Revo- 
lutionary war, two at least are known to have served in the Con- 



366 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Joel Blakeslee. 




Gen. Erastus Blakeslee 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 367 

tinental army, one in Captain Joseph Mansfield's (of Litchfield) 
company of infantry, and one in the " Light Hoise" (cavalry). 

Ransom Blakeslee, known in his later life as "Squire 
Blakeslee," father of Joel, established himself in business about 
1S03, at the water privilege, on what was then known as the 
Goss place, about halfway between Thomaston and Northfield. 
Here he did country blacksmithing, and also by aid of trip-ham- 
mers, run by water power, carried on quite a business in the 
manufacture of heavy " Guinea hoes," for plantation use in the 
South. These hoes, without handles, were packed in molasses 
hogsheads and hauled to Hartford or New Haven for shipment, 
the iron for making them being brought back on the return trip. 
This is very much in contrast with our modern ways of doing 
business. He, however, was enterprising and made money, so 
that after his father's death in 1814, be bought the family estate 
on Plymouth Hill, on which he lived until his death in 1S6S. 
He built the brick shop, still standing, opposite the house in 
which he lived, and for a time continued his general blacksmith- 
ing there, but gave up the manufacture of hoes. About iS'^4 
he formed a partnership with Mr. Cooley, of Reading, Conn., 
for the manufacture of carriages in the brick shop. This was 
the beginning of the carriage manufacturing industry in Ply- 
mouth. Two or three years later he assisted in the formation of 
the carriage manufacturing firm of Cooley, Bradley & Co., with- 
drawing from the business himself, but putting capital into the 
new firm for his son Joel, then a young man. The business in 
later years grew to large proportions, but since has steadily de- 
clined, owing to severe competition bv western manufacturers. 

From about that time his only business was the care of his 
farm. He was at one time a member of the legislature, and al- 
ways a much respected citizen. He will be remembered by the 
older residents of Plymouth at the present tiine for his native 
wisdom, his dignified and genial presence, and his upright and 
honorable character. 

His son, Joel, was a delicate child, and was never in robust 
health, although he lived until his eighty-third year. He partly 
fitted for Yale College, but on account of his health gave up his 
studies. On the formation of the carriage manufacturing firm of 
Cooley, Bradlev & Co., he became a member of it, as above 
stated, and continued with it until its close. Afterwards he car- 
ried on the carriage business for himself, in connection with his 
son Arthur. In 1871 he sold the old homestead and moved to 
Bridgeport, where he remained until his death. He was very 
feeble for the last two or three years of his life, but finally passed 
awav quite suddenly. 

GENERAL ERASTUS BLAKESLEE. 

Erastus Blakeslee, son of Joel and Sarah Maria (Mansfield) 
Blakeslee, was born in Plymouth, Conn., September 2, 1838. 
He was fitted for college at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, 
Mass., and entered the freshman class at Yale in the fall of 18=59. 



368 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Oliver Smith 




!'\i(m Tuttlt 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 369 

During his spring vacation in 1861 occurred the firing on Fort 
Sumter. At a public meeting held shortly afterwards in Ply- 
mouth, he was one of the first to sign the enlistment roll in 
answer to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. Owing to the 
large over-enlistment at that time he was not mustered into 
service, but returned to college. In the fall of the same year he 
left college for good and enlisted in Company A, First Battalion 
Connecticut Cavalry Volunteers. His military record was as 
follows : 

Enlisted in Co. A, ist Bat. Conn. Cav. Vols., . Oct. 9, 1S61 
Commissioned 2d Lieut, in same company, . Oct. 18, iSbi 

Promoted to be ist Lieut, and Adjutant, . . Nov. 26, 1861 

Promoted to be Capt. Co. A, . . . . Feb. 28, 1862 

Promoted to be Major, ..... July 14, 1863 
Promoted to be Lieut. -Colonel, . . . May 21, 1864 

Promoted to be Colonel, ..... May 27, 1864 
Must, out by reason of expiration of term of service, Oct. 26, 1864 
Commissioned Brevet Brig. Gen. of Vols, "for 

gallant conductat Ashland, Va., June I, 1864," March 13, 186^ 

During the spring and summer of 1864 he was in command 
of his regiment, as a part of Sheridan's cavalry, in the famous 
Wilderness campaign, during which the regiment saw much 
hard service. He was wounded in battle at Ashland, Va., June 
I, 1S64. As soon as he had recovered from his wound he 
rejoined his regiment, which he commanded during a portion of 
Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley campaign in the autumn of the 
same year. After leaving the army General Blakeslee was en- 
gaged in business for a time in New Haven, Conn., and afterwards 
in Boston, Mass. In 1876 he again took up the course of study 
which had been interrupted by the war, and entered Andover 
Theological Seminary in preparation for the gospel ministry. 
After graduating there in 1879, he held pastorates successively, 
in the Second Congregational Church, Greenfield, Mass., the 
Second Congregational Church, Fair Haven (New Haven), 
Conn., and in the First Congregational Church, Spencer, Mass. 

While in Spencer he became greatly interested in an eftbrt 
to improve the methods and results of Bible study in Sunday 
Schools and among young people, and devised a system of study, 
which met with such favorable reception, that in the summer of 
1892 he resigned his pastorate, moved to Boston, and has since 
given his whole time to this important work. His lessons are 
now used to a greater or less extent in nearly all the evangelical 
denominations in America, and have been translated into eight 
or ten difterent foreign missionary languages. 

OLIVER SMITH- 

Oliver Smith, now deceased, the son of Theophilus M. and 
Salome Smith, was born in Milford, Conn., September 15, 1800, 
and settled in Pl^'mouth with his parents in the spring of 1808. 
His father was a native of Milford and was a shoemaker and 
farmer by occupation. He was twice married. By his first 



370 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Residence uf Bvron Tuttle. 




Byron Tuttle's Birthplace. 



BIOGKAPIIICAI, SKETCHKS. 37I 

wife lie had two children, and by his second marriage seven, one 
ofwhom, vSalonie, married Chauncey Jerome, a celebrated clock 
maker of Plymouth. He continued to reside in Plymouth until 
his death in 1S49. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, 
and a captain oithe State militia for many years. Oliver Smith 
was reared on a farm, but was engaged at tanning, and worked 
for a while at joinering. He married Harriet, eldest daughter 
of Allen Bunnell, of Plymouth, October 16, 1822. Her father 
was a son of Titus Bunnell, who settled in Plymouth at an early 
day. Mr. Smith had the following children : Lyman, born 
February 5, 1S24, died in California, August 10, 1862; Edwin, 
who died young; Candace, born June 14, 1830 (married Byron 
Tuttle, and has two children, Hattie A. and William B.) ; James 
E., born March 11, 1S33, died September 24, 1S72. Mi. Smith 
was a staunch Republican, and was selectman twelve years, and 
held various other town offices. 

JOSEPH SIT ELTON. 

Joseph Shelton was born October 20, 1783, in Plymouth, 
Conn., and died June 20, 1S64. Martha, his wife, was born 
November 19, 17S6, and died February 24, 1842. Their chil- 
dren were : George Edward Shelton, born December 18, 1809, 
in Portland, Me., who has been a prominent citizen of Plymouth 
for manv years; Augusta Maria, born August 30, 181 1, in Port- 
land, Me.; Elizabeth Amelia, born July 19, 1813; Augustus 
Canby, born February 7, 1816, and died August 27, 18S0; 
Martha Jane, born July 22, 1818, and died vSeptember 30, 1S19 ; 
David, born November 3, 1820; Nancy Martha, born February 
25, 1823, and died vSeptember 30, 1874; Emilv, born December 
10, 1824; Isaac Wells, born January 14, 1828; William Joseph, 
born November 13, 1829, died September 16, 1830; Mary Ann, 
born April 4, 1S32, died October 22, 1832. George E. Shelton 
was first married October 3, 1848. to Miss Betsy Clark, who 
died March 17, 185c, and second to Mrs. Elizabeth Adah Jones, 
March 20, 1867, who is also dead. 

BYRON TUTTLE. 

Bvron Tuttle is of Welsh descent and the eighth generation 
from William Tuttle, who came from Devonshire, England, in 
the ship Planter, and landed in Boston in 1635. He removed to 
New Haven in 1639 and lived on and owned the land where the 
Yale College buildings now stand. Mr. Tuttle was born in 
Plymouth, Conn., August 23, 1825, the son of a farmer, and his 
early years were spent at home farming. He had the advantages 
of a common district school of those days. On the 26th of 
August, 1847, l""^ entered the carriage establishment of A. C. 
Shelton of Plymouth, afterward entering into partnership with 
him under the firm name of Shelton & Tuttle. In 1854 •^^^'• 
Tuttle went to Chicago and established a carriage repository for 
the sale of their carriages in that city. Later repositories were 



372 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Store— W. H. Scott & Co. 




Storehouse -W. H. Scott & Co. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



37: 



opened at New Oilcans, La., and Burlington, la., where he 
spent much of his time for a number of years. The venture 
proved successful, and the firm made money. In 1S65 they 
built a repository on Madison street, Chicago, which was burned 
in the great fire of 1S72, without much loss to the company, 
when tiie property was sold and !Mr. Tuttle retired from the 
business. 

Mr. Tuttle was married to Candace D., daughter of Oliver 
Smith, of Plymouth, April 10, 1S53. They have two cnildren, 
Hattie A. and William B. Aside from private business Mr. 
Tuttle has occupied a prominent place in the afiairs of the town, 
having been elected justice of the peace in 1S64, wdiich office he 
still holds, and selectman in 1S7S, holding the latter office 
thirteen years. He has been for a number of years the agent of 
the town, having filled this position with ability before the 
legislature and the courts in cases where local interests were 
involvetl. He has also been a judge of probate for ten years in 
the district where he resides. In politics he is a Republican. 
He is a member of the Congregational Society and has served 
with credit as the society's committee. Air. Tuttle is an 
energetic, thorough business man. 



W. H. SCOTT & CO. 

The store at Terryville station, owned and operated by W. 
H. Scott & Co , has been in existence about forty-one years, 
having been established in 1S54, ^y ^'^^ ^^^^ '^- Taylor Baldwin, 
who was station agent when the railroad penetrated this region. 
He was succeeded by Gains A. Norton, who sold out his inter- 
est to W^alter H. Scott, with whom was associated Edwin R. 
Dimmock, the firm name being Scott & Dimmock. After five 
months Mr. Dimmock retired on account of ill health, selling 
his interest to J. P. Crawford, who held his interest in the con- 
cern for three years. His health failing him he retired and W. 
H. Scott carried on the business single handed for a year, when 
he took into the store W. R. Guernsey, and for a year the firm 
was Scott & Guernse}^ At the end of a year Zelotes F. Gran- 
niss and W. C. Andrews were admitted, and the firm was then 
first known as W. PI. Scott & Co. Z. F. Granniss became the 
sole junior partner in 1S67. The entire real estate, with build- 
ings thereon, was then owned by Andrew Terry, who sold it to 
W. H. Scott & Co. in 1S6S. Since then they have steadily 
added to the store property, which at present consists of eight 
buildings. 

The most important building in connection with the store 
is a three-story storehouse, covering an area of 60 x 40 feet, with 
a spur track from the New York & New England railroad, run- 
ning into the building, from which coal is unloaded directly into 
coal bins underneath, having a capacity of from 600 to 700 tons. 
This building will easily hokl twenty cars of hay, grain, flour, 
feed and other supplies, and it is an interesting fact, that during 
the first year of its occupancy, 149 cars, aggregating 2,231^ tons. 



374 



llISTOin- OF PLYMOUTH. 




Saw Mill \V H. «^co;t & C- 




Cwal and Wuud YarJ^., Waterbuiy- W. H. Scutt & Cu. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



J)/:> 



were unloaded therein. Besides the articles mentioned above, 
the firm are dealers in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, 
hardware, wood, fertilizers, patent medicines, and, in fact, are 
literally, as formerly printed on their business cards, " dealers in 
everything." 

In connection with the business, they operate a saw mill, 
the site of which was bought at auction from the old Eagle Bit 
and Buckle Company, in 1S7S. Their first mill was erected in 
iSSo, and for twelve years they carried on a very good lumber 
and wood business from the same. In January, 1S92, the mill 
was burned, but was rebuilt in the following summer, larger and 
stronger, and the concern now turn out a large product in sawed 
lumber and firewood, besides doing quite an extensive business 
of planing, sawing and tvu'ning, and running a grist mill. They 
also own about 450 acres of wood and farm land, most of the 
latter being "cleared" by Z. F. Granniss. In 1S84 the firm 
bought of Mrs. Alfred Schermerhorn, the old home of Andrew 
Terry, about ^oo feet south ot the store, wdiere W. H. Scott and 
family reside. Until that time they lived in the present home of 
Z. F. Granniss, adjoining the store. 

In 18S5, finding that they were producing more firewood 
and charcoal than they could readily dispose of in Terryville, the 
firm bought out a wood yard in Waterbury, where they are doing 
a large business, employing seven or eight men and as many 
horses. W. H. vScott & Co. give employment, in all their estab- 
lishments, to an average of thirty men the year around. 

In 1S79, they found their bills for repairs, horse shoeing, 
etc., were becoming quite large, so they established a black- 
smith shop for their own work, and have, besides, done a large 
general black smithing business. They build their own wagons, 
besides doing custom work and horse shoeing for others. 

WALTER H. SCOTT. 

Walter H. Scott, Terryville's oldest and most widely known 
merchant, is a native of the town of Plymouth, and son of Riley 
Scott, the veteran builder. He was born on Town Hill, July 
29, 185 1, obtained his education at the " little red school house" 
near by, and in the village school, and entered the employ of 
Gains Norton, November 13, 1S60, becoming clerk in the store 
in which he has been so closely identified for nearly thirty-five 
years. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Scott has devoted 
most of his time to a large business, he has also served his native 
town in public aftairs. He was a member of the board of select- 
men from 1875 to 1 88 1, inclusive. For quite a number of years 
he has been a member of the board of relief, and represented his 
native town in the State legislature in 1876. jMr. Scott was ap- 
pointed postmaster of Pequabuck in President Johnson's admin- 
istration in 1866, the post ofiice being located in W. H. vScott & 
Co.'s store, and continued as such until 1876. when his brother- 
in-law and partner in business, Z. F. Granniss, was appointed 
by Piesident Grant, until 1S92, when jSIr. Scott was reappointed 



376 



HISTORY OF PI.YMOUTM. 




Walter H. Scott. 




W. H. Scott's Residence 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 377 

by President Harrison. In addition to his store duties he was 
for tive years station agent for the old Hartford, Providence & 
Fishkill railroad, and for twenty-five years agent for Adams Ex- 
press Company. Mr. Scott is an indefatigable worker and a 
firm believer in the old proverb, "The early bird catches the 
worm." He starts from his store every morning generally as 
early as 6 o'clock in quest of orders, and on Mondays usually at 
5 o'clock. This custom he has followed, in all sorts of weathei", 
for about thirty years. He is probably one of the most active, as 
well as respected business men in Litchfield county. 

Mr. Scott is a devout member of the Terryville Congrega- 
tional Church, and for eighteen consecutive years was assistant 
superintendent of the Sunday School. On January 21, 1864, he 
married Miss Sarah R. Granniss, sister of Z. F. Granniss. 
They celebrated their silver wedding in 1S89, when a large com- 
pany assembled at their home in their honor. They have had 
three children, viz: George A. Scott, book-keeper for W. 
H. Scott & Co., and general manager of the store in the absence 
of his father, and also superintendent of the Congregational Sun- 
day School, who was liorn January 23, 1S65 ; Frederick A. 
Scott, attorney-at-law, with an office in Hartford, and the assist- 
ant clerk in the House of Representatives in the Legislature of 
1895, born November 8, 1S66 ; Anna, born in September, 1868, 
died in Februarv, 1S71. 

Z. FULLER GRANNISS. 

Z. Fuller Granniss, now one of the selectmen ot Plymouth, 
was born in Hardscrabble, a section of the town of Warren, in 
Litchfield county, in 1S40, and was the son of Charles D. Gran- 
niss and his first wife. In early life he worked at farming and 
trading, and in 1862 was in the butchering business, when he 
enlisted in the Nineteenth Connecticut Volunteers, afterwards 
the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and went to the front 
with the boys in blue. He was in the army nearly three years, 
and never missed a march or battle that his regiment was en- 
gaged in. His company participated in the terrible conflicts at 
Cold Harbor, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, Thatch- 
er's Run, Petersburg, and at the close was with Grant when 
Lee surrendered. Mr. Granniss while in service was one of the 
cleanest, most efficient, ready for duty, hardy soldiers in the regi- 
ment, and by his imperturbable good nature under all sorts of 
privations and discouragements, by his wit and oddities, con- 
tributed not a little to keep up the spirits of the company. 
When the Sixth army corps lay in the fortifications in front of 
Petersburg, at one of the weekly inspections he was selected for 
having the best packed knapsack, best polished shoes, cleanest 
clothes and person, brightest buttons and accoutrements, and 
polished arms, of any man in the regiment, and was given a 
furlough of thirty days. He was mustered out in 1865, and 
entered the employ of Scott & Crawford, at Pequabuck, and has 
continued in the business ever since, being now a member of the 



37S 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Z F, Granniss 



■A* '1*4^*^ ;j?^i4*^i^S^*'^ 




ii^mfwi ^s t 



i' 



Residence of Z. F. Gramiiss. 



BIOGKAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 379 

firm which is styled W. H. vScott & Co. He was appointed 
postmaster in 1S76, and held the position until he resigned to 
look after the mill business of his company. He was at first a 
Democrat, then followed "Joe" Hawley into the Republican 
party, and stood by that party staunchly until he became per- 
suaded it could not possibly antagonize the saloon. Since he 
has acted with the Prohibitionists, and is determined to do all in 
his power to " pulverize the rum power." 

Mr. Granniss is a worker, toiling early and late, and is one 
of the best business men in town. He is married, and has one 
daughter, Laura. Three children have died. 

BEACH AND BLACKMER. 

Messrs Beach & Blackmer, the enterprising merchants of 
Plymouth, have become widely known during their business 
career in the past few years, by their energy to suit the people, 
promptness and thoroughly honest methods they have used in 
catering to the wants of their customers. Their business is now 
carried on in the store and buildings owned by Mrs. Hattie M. 
Beach, near Plymouth Green. O. D. Beach came here from 
Litchfield a number of years ago, and has been engaged in the 
mercantile business since.- L. E. Blackmer came to Thomaston 
in 18S0 from Woodbury, and had become well known here 
before entering in business with Mr. Beach. The business 
became known under the firm name of Beach & Blackmer, Jan- 
uary I, 1S90, and before that was conducted by Beach Brothers. 

Their success in business is mainly due to the large and 
complete stock of goods that they continually keep on hand, 
such as dry goods, groceries, hats and caps, boots and shoes, 
hardware, crockery, hay and feed. 

vathan beach. 

Nathan Beach was born in the town of Plymouth, March 16, 
1S06, his parents coming here about 1795, from Milford, Conn., 
For seventeen vears he was engaged by Silas Hoadley, Eli 
Terry, and others, in painting clock dials, but finally, on account 
of his health, was obliged to abandon the work, and in 1S3S, 
moved into tlie place on Town Hill, where his widow and son, 
Everett A. Beach, now reside. Mr. Beach was married Decem- 
ber 33, 1830, to Miss Lucy Case of Southington. He died Jan- 
uary 23, 1SS6. 

D. W. C. SKILTON. 

DeWitt Clinton vSkilton was born in that portion of the 
present town of Thomaston, which was then known as Plymouth 
Hollow, on the nth of January, 1S39. ^is parents were John 
Chester Skilton, born in Wateitown, and Anna Heaton, born in 
Northfield (both from old New England families), the former 
being in the einplov of Seth Thomas, the elder, for twenty 



3So 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Beach & Blackiner's Store. 




Natlian Beach. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3S1 

years. His first American ancestor was Dr. Henry Skilton, who 
was born in tlie parish ol" St. Michael, Coventry, England, Nov- 
vember 19, 171S, and sailed for America in a ''gun ship," 
April I, 1735. He left the ship the same year on its artival in 
Boston, boarded a while in Roxbury, and is next heard of in 
Pieston, Conn., where he was married in 1741? to the daughter 
of Joseph Avery of Norwich. He removed to Southington in 
171^0, ten vears later to Woodbury, and finally in his old age to 
Watertown, where he died in 1S02, at the age of eighty-four. 

The subject of this sketch removed from Plymouth Hollow 
to Hartford in 1855, and began his business career in the dry 
goods trade. In October, 1861, he first entered the insurance 
business as a clerk in the office of the Hartford Fire Insurance 
Company. In 1862 he joined Company B, of the Twenty- 
second Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, and was elected sec- 
ond lieutenant, serving with distinction in the army until he was 
mustered out, having been promoted, in the meantime, to first 
lieutenant. On his return from the army he resumed his old 
position with the insurance company. In November, 1S67, he 
was elected secretary of the Pha^nix Insurance Company, and re- 
mained in that capacity until August i, 188S, when he was 
elected vice-president and acting president ; and February 2, 
1 891, was elected president of the company. He ranks unques- 
tionably among the expert underwriters of the country, and the 
Phanix owes much of its success to his able management. 

Mr. Skilton was married August 8, 1865, to Miss Jennette 
Andrews, daughter of Lyman Andrews, of Hartford. They have 
had two children, a son and daughter, neither of whom is now 
living. In addition to his official connection with the Phoenix 
Insurance Company, Mr. Skilton is a director in the Hartford 
National Bank, a corporator and trustee of the State Savings 
Bank, was president of the National Board of Fire Underwriters 
for three years, a member of the Military Order of the Loyal 
Legion of the United States, a member of the Grand Army of 
the Republic, and of the Hartford Club. He held the office of 
committeeman of ithe West Middle school district in Hartford 
for several years. He is a Republican in politics, and his relig- 
ious connections are with the Asylum Avenue Congregational 
Church, of his city. 

PORTER SANFORD. 

Porter Sanford was born in Goshen, Conn., September 7, 
1810. He was the son of Ephraim Sanford, who was born in 
Plymouth, January 2, 1785, and grandson of Amos Sanford, 
born December 29. 1740, who was a descendant of Thomas and 
Sarah Sanford. When still a young child his father returned 
with his famiiy to Plymouth, where the remainder of his life was 
spent. September 13, 1835, he married Sarah Ann Allen, who 
was born in Harwinton, March 9, 1815. She was the daughter 
of Roswell Allen, who was born in i794' 'infl granddaughter of 
John Allen, born in i7'i6, and who died November 28, 183 1. 
He was a soldier in the Revolutionarv war. 



382 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUIH. 



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D. W. C. Skilton 




Porter San ford. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3S3 

He was associated with Eli Terry, Jr., in the manufacture 
of clocks, and afterwards with James Terry in the lock business, 
and identified with the Eagle Lock Company from its organiza- 
tion, and one of its diiectors for many years until his retirement 
from active business in iS66. 



B. B. SATTEKLEE. 

Having been requested to allow my profile or likeness to be 
pkiced in our " History of Plymouth," I hesitated to comply with 
that request. I asked myself these questions: "What rioht 
have I, a humble, obscure citizen, who never attended a political 
caucus, nor held office, civil or military — what right have I to 
obtrude myself among those Plymouth worthies.^ And, further- 
more, why should I seek to honor myself, and not the members 
of my family.?" But finally I have acquiesced, and consented to 
let my picture go in. In the town of Sheldon, Genesee (now 
Wyoming) county, N. Y., about one-half mile south of the center, 
on the 19th of January, iSiS, I first became a regular inhabitant 
of this mundane sphere. There I first beheld the glorious sun- 
light ; and the radiant smiles of the queen of night ; and the glis- 
tening stars! My father died in December, 1S27. In the 
autumn of 1S29 I accompanied an uncle (Col. Philo VVelton ) to 
his home in Montville, Medina county, Ohio. With him I lived 
three years, working on the farm and attending school. I 
remember that while there one of our neighbors had the reputa- 
tion of eating fried rattlesnakes ! And this reminds me that on 
a certain occasion my uncle had one of those reptiles hung by the 
neck, skinning it (not alive) for the purpose of obtaining its oil. 
And this further reminds me that one day when clearing some 
land my uncle discovered a massaugee (a dark, poisonous snake), 
and a moment later, with a fork or stick, whirled it into the 
burning heap. There was a fearful squirming — a few moments 
only. And this still further reminds me that one day, a little 
way over in the woods, a black snake was seen some twenty to 
thirty feet up on a large "cucumber" tree, which has a rough 
bark. Uncle Philo went to obtain his gun, with which the 
reptile was quickly brought down and dispatched, and being 
laid by the side of the long gun, was found to be the longest of 
the two. I was told that this kind of snake sometimes ascended 
trees for the purpose of obtaining young squirrels and such like. 
And such vast quantities of pigeons at certain seasons of the 
year ! Many flocks flying swiftly and low. Occasionally a flock 
containing tens of thousands, much bigger, and extending far 
away on either side and forward and backward a much longer 
distance. And wild turkevs, too, occasionally flew over, some- 
times alighting on the tops of the tall trees, from which, " now 
and then," they were brought down by the marksman's rifle. 
And they came — cautiously — into the grain fields, and on urgent 
occasions quite near the home buildings. In the autumn of 1S33 
I came to Ashtabida, where my mother was then living. The 
following winter I lived and attended school in the adjoining 



384 



HISTORY OK PI.VMOUJU. 




B. B. Satterlee. 




Hiram Piorce. 



HIOGKAPIUCAI. SKETCHES. 385 

town of Sheffield, where Henry Atvvater (father to Francis, wlio 
is publishing this history, and to Dorence, of Anderson- 
ville fame), taught school one winter along in the thirties. In 
the spring of 1833 I drifted into a shoemaker's shop, where I 
remained six years, making, mending, choring and attentling a 
few terms at school. 

By sitting in a leaning position, accompanied by care- 
less exposures which resulted in colds, my health became im- 
paired, in the matter of a lame side, etc., ailments from which I 
never fully recovered. Seemingly those were years worse than 
thrown away. And yet somewhere along that time there may 
have been a Divine Providence interposing, preserving me from 
something worse. In the summer of 1S39 I came to Western 
New York, and in September of that year to Connecticut, where 
I again drifted into house painting, at which I worked forty or 
more years, with a little at farming thrown in. In March, 1S43, 
I went to Washington Cit}-, where I shook hands with John 
Tyler, and obtained some valuable autogiaphs. In the autumn 
of that year went west on a visit as far as Ohio. Near the close 
of 1843 went to Long Island, the home of my paternal ancestois. 
In 1S44 was married. In 1S51 went with my wife to the Cr^ s- 
tal Palace Exhibition in New York City. In July, 1852, we 
went to Providence, where my younger brother graduated at 
Brown University, a brother who — four years later — was laid 
away in the soil of distant Arracan. Including these and a few 
other short absences, have resided in Plymouth during the last 
fifty-five and one-half years. Besides the unseen and unknown 
deliverances which come more or less to all, I have experienced 
a few remarkable escapes from a premature death. In infancy 
an older brother rocked me from a chair into the fireplace. The 
result, a broken nose, a scarred face, one eye nearly destroyed 
and the other somewhat injured. "When living with my uncle 
in Ohio, I went to the pasture lot to catch a horse. Indiscreetly 
coming up behind it, I received the full force of both feet, which 
sent me "kiting" — downward. I never think of it without 
wondering at my escape from so tremendous a shock. In 
December, 1847, I was suffocated by charcoal, in a new house 
built by Frederick Catlin in Harwinton, about one mile south 
from the Catlin Corners, the first house on the road that turns 
easterly toward Bristol. One-half hour or more passed before I 
was resuscitated to consciousness. Along in the fifties I under- 
took to lead a horse — with sleigh attached — around in the snow. 
Failing to step as fast as the animal did, I was pressed back- 
ward, and in falling pulled that over — partly on to me, one thill 
resting across my neck. A young woman, a neighbor's daugh- 
ter (whom I was to take to the church), might have released 
me. But she was so frightened that she ran for assistance, 
which, quite fortunately, came from the opposite direction. My 
neighbor, Richard Clark, seeing or hearing, or both, came to 
my rescue. Awhile my jaws were closed (no loss to the world 
I imagine !) and one or more ribs disorganized. But at length I 
seemed to have mostly if not whollv recovered from the injurv. 



iS6 



iiisioK\ oi' i'j.vmolhii. 



Along in the seventies 1 received from a great liorse, with big 
feet, a blow partly on my side and back. It brought me down, 
and laid me by awhile; yet I still live ! And so the years have 
come and sped away. My family to large extent are gone " the 
way of all the earth." Time — bj' stealth as it were — has swiftly 
hastened on, and brought my footsteps to the verge of the grave, 
which soon must close over me. But if my picture goes into 
this book, I shall pass along down to Plvmouth's second centen- 
nial celebration in 1995. B. B. S., Apiil, 1S95. 



Mr. Satterlee has kin 
assessments of special occu 

Lsaac Alcox, 
Joel Blakeslee, 
Noah M. Bronson, 
Ransom Blakeslee, 
Calvin Butler, 
Bela Blakeslee, 
vSala Blakeslee, 
(31iver Curtis, 
Ephraim Camp, 
Doolittle & Barney, 
Asa Darrow, 
Asa Darrow, Jr., 
Joseph Gibson, 
Ira Dodge, 
Ebenezer W. French, 
French & Matthews, 
Giles Fenn, 
Cyrus Gaylord, 
Ozias Goodwin, 
Harvey Hough, 
Joel Langdon, 
Miles Morse, 
Zadock Mann, 
Daniel Mills, 
Mitchell & Warner, 
Thomas Potter, 
Noah Pomeroy, 
William Pierpont, 
[^uman Preston, 
Samuel Preston, 
Martin Pond, 
David Smith & Son, 
Roderick Stanley, 
Titus vSeymour, 
Abel Seymour, 
Ccmstant L. Tuttle, 
Eli Terry, 
Anizi Talmage, 
Stephen T. Talmage, 
Philip Tompkins, — 
Ozias Warner, 
David Warner, 
Gideon Woodruff, 
James Warner, 2d, 
Allyn Wells, 
Gates & Tyler, 
David Morse, 



dlv iurnished the following names and 
pations in Plymouth, for the year 180S : 

Wheelwright, $10 00 

Blacksmith, ■ 10 00 

Inn keeper, 30 00 

Blacksmith, 15 00 

Attorney, 100 00 

Tanner, 10 00 

Blacksmith, 10 00 

Mill, 5 00 

Mill, 25 00 

Traders, 100 00 

Tanner and Shoemaker, 15 00 

Tanner and Shoemaker, 1 5 00 

Inn keeper, 30 00 

Wheelwright, 10 00 

Inn keeper, 50 00 

Blacksmiths, 20 00 

Tailor, 10 00 

Clothier, 50 00 

Hatter, 10 00 

Inn and Trader, 60 00 

Trader, 100 00 

Mill, 20 00 

Cooper, 10 00 

Joiner, 20 00 

Traders, 100 00 

Wheelwright, 10 00 

Tin maker, 15 00 

Clothier, 10 00 

Mill, 45 00 

Mill, 35 00 

Blacksmith, 20 00 

Traders, 100 00 

Tin maker, 1 5 00 

Shoemaker, 10 00 

Mill, 15 00 

Tanner, 25 00 

Clock maker, 20 00 

Sadler, 40 00 

Hatter, 10 00 

Cooper, ^ ^ 10 00 

Physician, 34 00 

Phj'sician, 34 00 

Physician, 67 00 

Joiner, 10 00 

Joiner, 20 00 

Mill, • 60 00 

Mill, 90 00 



)i,53o 00 



BIOGKAPHICAI, SKP:TCHES. 3S7 

IIIHAM PIERCE. 

Hiraai Pierce was born in Cornwall, Conn., December 27, 
1800, and died in Thomaston, October 17, 1S75. He was the 
son of John Pierce, who was the son of Captain Joshua Pierce, 
both ot Cornwall. Mr. Pierce received a common school edu- 
cation. His boyhood days were occupied with farm life, after- 
wartls teaching school in his native town. He learned the trade 
of joiner and cabinet maker, living in Waterbury for a time. 
He moved to Plymouth about the time of his majority to engage 
in making clock cases for Seth Thomas, and in connection with 
Deacon W. P. Judson, for some years made all the clock cases, 
under contract, for Mr. Thomas. The work at that time was all 
done by hand. 

He married Charolette S. Bancroft, of East Windsor, Conn., 
in 1S38, purchased a farm and went there where he remained 
two years, when he returned to Plymouth at the urgent solicita- 
tion of Mr. Thomas, to take charge of his office, which in 
addition to the clock business, included a cotton mill and a large 
farm. In this business relation he carried burdens that but few 
men could. i\fter the Thomas Manufacturing Company was 
formed for the manulacture of brass clocks, he was appointed 
secretary. He also took an active part in religious and educa- 
tional matters, and was prominently identified with the Congre- 
gational Church in Plymouth Centei", in 1S30, at which time 
Rev. Luther Hart was pastor, but after the Congregational 
Church in Thomaston was founded, he removed his membership 
therel He was also a justice of the peace for over forty vears, 
and served as assessor, selectman, etc., and was a trusted adviser 
and councilor for a wide circle. He served his town in the 
legislature in 1861. In politics he was a Whig, and an ardent 
admirer of Henry Clay, later becoming a Repulilican. 

He buried his first wife in June, 1848, bv whom he had five 
children. A year after he married Sarah E. Beers, of Cornwall, 
Conn., by whom he had one child. 

Among his last efforts for the improvement of the place, 
was the planning and securing of the substantial addition to the 
beautiful cemetery on the hillside, where he sleeps, awaiting the 
resurrection of the just. 

His children are all married, and reside as follows: 
Wm. J., married Elizabeth A. Capron, of New Britain, Conn., 
resides in Hartford; Joseph B., married Sophia A. Boardman, 
of Hartford, resides in Hartford; Charlotte S , married Horace 
A. Potter, of Thomaston, resides in Thomaston ; S. Maria, 
married Alexander Hamilton, of West Hartford, Conn., died 
March 17, 1S63; Edward H., married vSusan C Beers, of 
Stratford, Conn., resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Alice E., married 
Dr. E. T. Bradstreet, of Thomaston, resides in Meriden, Conn. 

HENRY S. MINOR. 

Henry vS. Minor, who resides on the WWHvs Atwater farm 
in the eastern part of Plvmouth, was born in Harwinton, T^ly 



388 



HISTORY OF PI.VMOU'lll. 










Henrv S. Minor. 



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Hiram Minor 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3S9 

17, 1S34. His parents were Hiram Minor and Chloe Button, 
who was a granddaughter of David Dutton, the first deacon of 
the Congregational Church in Plymouth. Hiram was the son of 
Joshua Minor and Diadama Alcott, who was sister to the father 
of A. Bronson Alcott, and was born in Southington, January 24, 
1S04, his folks moving to Wolcott when he was quite small. 
Tne subject of this sketch, in early life, was a lock maker, then 
he drifted into the livery business, owning, for several vears, 
what is now the hotel property in Terry vi lie, but is now a farm- 
er b}^ occupation. He married Theresa, daughter of Henry 
Atwater, to whom five children were born, one daughter, Eva, 
being the only surviving one. 

BURR SMITH BEACH. 

Burr Smith Beach was born in Northfield, Conn., Novem- 
ber 27, 1823, and was the oldest son in a family of eleven chil- 
dren. His father was Isaac C. Beach and his mother Eunice 
Maria Beecher, a lineal descendent of Dr. Lyman Beecher. 
His early life was spent on his father's farm, and in working 
for neighboring families. At the age of twenty-one he came to 
Plymouth Hollow, now Thomaston, where he entered the em- 
plov of a contractor in the Seth Thomas Clock Company-. In 
1S48 he severed his connection Vk'ith the clock factory, came to 
Terryville and took a position with the Eagle Lock Company. 
As a boy he showed great musical ability, and the year after he 
came to Terryville, was chosen chorister of the choir of the Con- 
gregational Church, which position he held for about twenty-five 
vears, during which time he built up the choir, so that it was 
known in adjoining towns as one of the best volunteer choirs in 
the vicinity, if not in the state. He led the singing in the Sab- 
bath School for nearly twenty-five years, and was also a success- 
ful teacher in the rudiments of music. 

He united with the Congregational Church in i8'^2, where 
he always attended regularly He was married Januarv 6, 1852, 
to Fannv Jane Blakeslev, daughter of Deacon Milo Blakesley, 
and had seven children, five of whom are still living. During 
the first vear of their marriage he erected a house on South 
street, which they occupied as long as they lived. 

Although working as a contractor for the Eagle Lock Com- 
pany, he was alwavs interested in farming, and in the raising of 
thorougli-bred stock, especially Jersey cows. 

December 31, 1873, his health being somewhat impaired, 
he left the employ of the Eagle Lock Company and spent the 
remainder of his life on his small farm. He was a staunch 
Republican and held several town offices during his life. He 
died October 16, i88g. 

DR. WILLIAM WOODRUFF. 

Dr. William Woodruff' was born in New Haven, July 17, 
1S04, and had he lived one month longer, until July, 1S93, 
would liave reached his eisfhtv-ninth birthdav. He was the 



390 



HISTORY OP' PLYMOUTH. 




Purr S Pencil, 






Wpk 




Dr. William Woodruff. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 39I 

youngest of three sons of Dr. Gideon Woodrurt'and vSarah Ilea- 
ton, ot Plymouth, and traced his lineage to Matthew VVootlruti', 
who came from Farmington to Hartford in 1641. In his infancy 
the parents of Dr. Woodrutl' returned to Plymouth, wheie 
they previously resided, and remained until the death of the 
elder Dr. Woodruff, who for many years was a medical practi- 
tioner in the town. Dr. Woodruff enjoyed the benehts of the 
training and scholarship of Rev. Luther Hart, being at one time 
his pupil. He first commenced the study of medicine under Dr. 
Jonathan Knight about 1S24, and continued under the direction of 
Dr. Nathan vSmith, both well known physicians. He graduated 
from the medical tlepartment of Yale in 1826, and located as a 
physician in Waterbury. Soon al'ter, however, he removed to 
Plymouth, at the urgent request of friends, and for many vears 
enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. Nearly twenty years 
before his death he relinquished most of his practice and gave 
considerable time to travel — visiting Europe, California, Canada, 
the South, and many other places. 

He was a man of activity and energy and believed in plenty 
of exercise, a belief which he put in daily practice. In 183S he 
married Martha Thomas (since deceased), a daughter of Seth 
Thomas, the or'ginator of the clock industry in Thomaston, now 
the Seth Thomas Clock Company. Only one son, William T. 
Woodruff, president of the Seth Thomas Clock Compan}', sur- 
vives. Dr. Woodruff was for manv years, and at his death, a 
member of the Congreofational Church. 



ROBERT GRAHAM JOHNSON. 

Robert Graham Johnson was born December 31, 1779; mar- 
ried Hannah Bradley in November, 1S02, and after her death, 
Wealthy Hummiston, Septeiuber 39, 1813. His children were: 
Julia, born June i, 1804, who married David Sherman, went to 
Pennsvlvania, and died in March, 1849, leaving children ; Jairus, 
born November 19, 1808, died vSeptember 4, 1830; Hannah, 
born April 8, i8r2, married Eben Pritchard, died in Waterbury, 
March 3, 1876, leaving several children ; Esther, born October 
13, 1814, mairied Lynes Pettibone, lived in Brooklyn, N. Y., 
died February 34, 184^, leaving two children, since dead; vSarah 
Ann, born December 33, 1S16, married Samuel Pettibone, lived 
in Alabama, died December 35, 1885, leaving several children; 
Junius J., born June 18, 18 19, married Charlotte Romaine, died 
in New York, September I3, 1S69, leaving several children; 
William N., born Jime 33, 1821, married Adelia Dudley, died 
in New York, December 19, 1852, leaving several children ; 
Mary, born March 29, 1824, married Jason M. Clemence, died 
at Terryville, June 11, 1S56, leaving one son; Edwin, born 
December i, 1826, married Sarah Bartlett, was a Congregational 
minister, died in New Y^ork, December 25, 18S3, leaving three 
daughters; Miranda, born October 28, 1829, married James C. 
]Mix. lives (1S95) '^f'^'^ ''t Cianford, N. J., and Harriet, born 
October 12, 183^, died A])ril 9, 1S36. 



392 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




R. G. Jolmsuii. 




F. T. Cook 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 393 

Mr. Johnson and his wife were members of the Plymouth 
Congregational Church until 1S37, when he became one of the 
first subscribers to the Teiryville Congregational Church, and 
the next year contributed toward the church bell. He kept a 
cooper shop on the hill nearly opposite Elizur Fenn's house and 
attended the old toll gate, which afterwards was removed to in 
front of the residence of Oliver Smith near Plymouth Center. 
He divided his time between his trade and teaming between 
Plymouth and Hartford, but later when the clock business was 
thriving he dropped the cooper business and devoted the remain- 
der of his life to his team work. He was the first person to 
introduce matches in the community, and Stephen Fenn has in 
his possession one of the old time match boxes that Mr. Johnson 
brought to town. It was customary in those days to keep wood 
coals smouldering, so that when a fire was wanted it could be 
fanned into brightness and started up. Often the spark of fire 
would be gone and the coals would be borrowed at a neighbor- 
ing house. Mr. Johnson died October 28, 1861, aged eighty- 
two vears. 



Frederick Tliomas Cook, the Terryville druggist, was born 
May 20, 1866, and is a son of the late Homer E. Cook. He 
was educated in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen 
years went to work in the drug store E. W. Merriman. After- 
wards attended the College of Pharmacy in New York, and 
passed the state examination of the board of pharmacy at Plart- 
ford, Conn. He bought out N. M. Plumb's drug store, and 
some time later was in partnership with T. B. McNamara, 
which continued for several years. He has now been the sole pro- 
prietor of the store in E. M. Dailey's building, since November 
16, 1892. Besides his complete drug business, he carries a fine 
stock of confectionery, stationery and periodicals. Lucien E. 
Rouse is emploved by him as clerk. 

PHILO LEWIS. 

Philo Lewis, who, with his brother, John C, kept the vil- 
lage store, came to Terryville about the year 1837. He alternated 
with his brother as the political complexion changed in being 
postmaster. After a residence of eight vears in Terryville, he 
removed to New Haven, where he died in 1859, aged fifty-five 
years. His first wife was Elner Swift of Cornwall, to whom 
three children were born : Sarah, married to Homer Peck ; El- 
ner, married to ex-Governor H. B. Bigelow, and Martha, mar- 
ried to H. J. Gavlord of Binghampton. His second wife was a 
Miss vSanford and is still living in New Haven. Her children 
are : Emma, married to Edwin F. Mersick, and Hattie, un- 
married. 

LYMAN BALDWIN. 

Lyman Baldwin was of English origin. His ancestors 
settled in New England at a very early day, and farming was 



;94 



IIISIOKV OF PLYMOUTH. 




inM. l^■^ 




l.\man Baldwin. 



BKJGKArillCAL SKE'ICHES. 395 

their chief occupation for many generations. His grandfather 
was Ebenezer Baldwin, who came from old Millord and settled 
in the town of Plymouth. He had a family of children, of whom 
Thaddeus was one, who was born in Plymouth, and married 
Thankful Alcock, and had the following children, viz. : Polly, 
Thankful, Hannah, Thaddeus, Lydia, Lyman, David and Nicy, 
who died at twenty-one, and all the remainder of this large 
family livetl to be old people. Thaddeus, Sr., was a farmer. 
He died far advanced in life, and his wife lived to be ninety 
vears of age. Lyman Baldwin was born near where his son, 
Lvman D., now resides. He married Polly Ailing of Terry- 
ville, and had four children, viz: Hiram, Mary P., Lyman D. 
and Hannah, all of whom \a ere born in the old homestead now 
in the possession of Lvman D. Mr. Baldwin was a farmer by 
occupation and a dealer in liuriber, which he manufactured. In 
politics he was a Whig and held some minor town offices. He 
was a captain of state militia and was known as Captain Bald- 
win. He received a severe injury, which, after lingering seven 
months, caused his death, March 6, 1859. ^'^ wife died 
August 29, i860. 

Lyman D. Baldwin, who now resides on the old homestead, 
was born January 19, 1825. He was reared on the farm, 
receiving such advantages for an education as the district schools 
of his day artbrded. At nineteen he commenced teaching school 
winters, which he followed for seventeen years, in which he 
was very successful. He is a farmer by occupation, and in con- 
nection he owns and runs a grist and saw mill. He served as 
acting school visitor of Plymouth for twenty-one years, and has 
been a member of the school board for over thirty years. He 
has been assessor, and represented the town in the legislature in 
i8yi, 1S77 '^"'^^ ^^^79' sei'ving on the committees of constitutional 
amendments, temperance and education. Mr. and Mrs. Bald- 
win are members of the Congregational Church in Plymouth, 
of which he is deacon. He is liberal toward the church and 
charitable to the poor. 

On the 14th of May, 18^4, he married Emily, daughter of 
Erastus Fenn, of Plymouth. Their children were as follows, 
viz: Edward P., born December 16, 1859, <^'^*^^ May 20, 1864; 
Minnie E., born December 24, 1864, died December 6, 1875. 

THOMAS J. BRADSTREET. 

Thomas Jefferson Bradstreet, who was long a resident of 
Thomaston, traced his ancestry back to a non-conformist minis- 
ter, who died in 1617, leaving a son, Simon Bradstreet, who 
was born at Herbling, Lincolnshire, England, in 1603. Simon 
came to this country to the young settlement in Massachusetts 
Bay in 1630. He was identified with the early history of the 
colony. He had several sons and daughtei^s ; his fourth son, 
John, settled in Topsfield, on a portion of the land granted to 
his father. He was succeeded by his son Simon, who married a 
daughter of Rev. Joseph Capen of the same town. Their son 



39^ 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




T. J. BraJstre 




George T. Cdok 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 397 

John, the grandfather of T. J. Bradstieet, also a farmer, married 
Elizabeth Fisk ot W'endham, INlasb., March 3, 171S. They had 
se\eral daughters and one son, Dudley, a name that has been 
well preserved among the Bradstreets, while Simon has ceased 
to be a family name. Thomas G., the sixth son of Dudley 
ijradstreet, was born April 7, 1S07, on the old farm at Tops- 
tield, and removed with the family to Danvers, in April, 1810. 
In the fall of 1S30 he entered Yale College, with the intention of 
studying law on the completion of his college course. During 
the winter of iS30-'3i he became interested in the subject of 
religion, changed his plans, and after graduating in 1S34 he en- 
tered the Theological Seminary in New Haven to study for the 
ministry. At the close of the usual term of three yeais he 
received an invitation to preach to a church and society just 
organized in that part of Plymouth, now Thomaston. After 
laboring here for about two months his health began to fail, he 
left for several weeks, after which he returned and renewed his 
labors, assisted for a short time by a young man who had sup- 
plied his place during his absence. Later he engaged to supply 
the pulpit of the Congregational Church in Meriden for four 
months. The following winter, i838-'39, he preached in the 
Second Congregational Church in New I>ondon. His health 
continuing feeble he finally gave up his chosen profession. In 
the autumn, November 4, 1S40, he was married to Amanda, 
daughter of the late Seth Thomas, and engaged in his employ 
the next spring as superintendent of his cotton factory. In this 
position he continued for fifteen years, when he gave up his 
position to travel for the Seth Thomas Clock Company. In this 
employment he continued until the commencement of the late 
civil war. Then he was engaged in various kinds of business 
for himself; improving his land near the village, conducting farm 
work, doing such business as is usually connected with house 
building, running a saw mill, grist mill, feed and flour 
store, etc. Of his children. Thomas Dudley Bradstreet is gen- 
eral manager of the Seth Thomas Clock Company; Albert P. 
Bradstreet is the well known lawyer and judge ; George P. 
Bradstreet is general manager of his father's business; Mary 
Amanda married Professor J. R. French of New Haven, who 
is principal of one of the public schools there : Dr. E. T. Brad- 
street is a graduate ot Yale and College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons in New York, and is practicing his profession in Meriden, 
this state. 

GEORGE T. COOK. 

George T. Cook was born in West Camden, N. Y., October 
10, 1S40. His parents were Arba and Hipsibah Cook, who 
spent their last years in Plvmouth. George enlisted as a private 
in Company D., 19th C. V., August 8, 1863, and was mustered 
out July 7, 1865. He served in the defense of Alexandria until 
May 17, 1864, when he was ordered to the front, where he car- 
ried a musket for about two months, when he served in the band 
for the remainder of his term. He was in the battle at Cold 



39S 



IIIS^()R^■ OF PI.YMOUIH. 




E L Perkins' Residence. 




Prosper Warner. 



BIOGKAl'JIICAI. SKETCHES. 399 

Harbor and was slightly wounded, and was also in a skirmish 
at Petersburg. After returning from the war he was employed 
as a mechanic by the Eagle Lock Company, but for several years 
past has been in the bakery business, and is doing a flourishing 
trade at Bristol, where he has recently erected commodious and 
convenient quarters. 

E. L. PERKINS. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Belchertown, Mass., 
September 6, 1S45. He attended school until the breaking out 
of the civil war. The principal of the school and the boys of his 
clabS enlisted, but he being too young, was not allowed to go. 
But later, the authorities being less particular about age, he en- 
listed in the Fort3'-sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, 
Agust 33, 1S63, and took part in nearly all the marches and en- 
gagements during its term of service, and was one of the two 
hundred and thirty of his regiment to volunteer to go to the re- 
lief of Maryland, after their term of service had expired. After 
the battle of Gettysburg, he was inustered out of service at 
Springfield, Mass., July 23, 1S63, and worked there on small 
arms for the government, until about the close of the war. 
From Springfield, he went to Chicopee, Mass., in the employ of 
the Gaylord Mfg. Co., manufacturers of locks. In July, 1S66, 
he came to Terryville, Conn., and entered the employ of the 
Eagle Lock Co He married Emily L. Carter, oldest daughter 
of Charles Carter, of Terryville, May 13, 1S71. In 1S75, he 
went, with a former president of the Eagle Lock Compan\'. to 
Bridgeport, to start a new lock company. Li 1S78, he interest- 
ed capital and formed the Western Lock Company, at Geneva, 
Ohio. Six years later, his health failing, he resigned his posi- 
tion as superintendent and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After a 
partial recovery of his health, he again identified himself with 
the Eagle Lock Company, and purchased the house represented 
in this article. Here he resided until October, 1893, when, on 
account of sickness, he purchased a place in Avon Park, Florida, 
and has been there winters, spending his summers at Terryville. 
His present residence has been owned by several prominent men 
of the town, notably, by William E. McKee, Joseph Adams, 
Frank W. Mix and Deacon Milo Blakesley. 

PROSPER WARNER. 

Prosper Warner was born in Plymouth, in Ma}', 1S07, and 
spent his boyhood days upon the farm, but at an early age, 
he went forth to earn his own living, and for some time was a 
peddler through the Southern States, with headquarters in New 
Jersey, which occupation he followed imtil 1S38; at which time 
he returned to his native town, remaining thereuntil 1840, when 
he removed to West Haven. Mr. Warner married for his first 
wife. Miss Acha Perry of New Jersey, and for his second, 
Charlotte S. Cope of New Haven, who now resides there. Mr. 
Warner spent the last few years of his life in superintending the 



400 



HISTORY OF Pl.YMOUTH. 




David D. Warner. 




Markliam Scutt 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 4OI 

large property that he was so successful in accumulating. He 
was a man of eminent public spirit, as is evidenced by his laige 
and frequent contributions to the improvement and advancement 
of his native town, and those that he came in contact with else- 
where during his life. He was well disposed, genial, and 
always considered excellent company by his host of acquaint- 
ances. He was honest and upright, and alwavs believed in 
teaching others to that etiect. He was senior warden of Christ 
Church at West Haven, for over thirty years, which church, St. 
Peter's of Plymouth and the Northfield church, were well re- 
membered in his will. He died in August, iSSS, at the 
advanced age of eightv-one years. 

DA^'ID DUTIOX WAKXEK. 

David Button Warner was born in the town of Plymouth, 
on the tenth day of April, 1794, and died there, Februarv 14, 
1S65. He married Rachel Clark of New York State. Eunice 
Warner, sister of Noah Warner, was the wife of Eli Terry, 
James Warner was their grandfather, and John and David Dut- 
ton were great grandfathers, the subject of this sketch, being 
named after the latter. Noah had seven sons and three 
daughters. David, the eldest, had the farm, which afterwards 
came into the possession of, and is now owned by his daughters, 
Mrs. E. Dayton and Miss C. J. Warner, who are the fifth gen- 
eration born at the old farm-house. Noah Warner was one of 
the first town officers in 1795, and John, his father, was the 
society's agent for the building of the Episcopal Church, in the 
year 1745. 

MAKKHAM SCOTT. 

Markharn Scott, son of Levi and vSarah Scott, was born in 
a log house in the south part of Plymouth, April 23, 1808. He 
married. May 13, 1834, Lois Wilcox of Harwinton, Conn., who 
died Dec. q, 1S7S. Before his marriage he bought a small farm 
on the main road, about one-half mile west of Terryville, where 
he resided until his death. The children numbered three — 
Homer Augustus, who died in 1856; Elvira Cornelia, now wife 
of Geo. H. Bates, and Abner Wilcox, killed in the battle of 
Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1S64. 

By trade, Mr. Scott was a carpenter and joiner, and aided, 
not only in building up the town, but also had a hand in running 
the works of the lock companies of Terrvville in their earlier 
days, for manv of the old-time wooden pullevs were made by 
him in his little shop. In 1850 he built himself a new house, 
doing nearlv all the work, including doors and sashes, himself. 
At that time "a raising" was a necessity, and ardent spirits 
were considered necessarv — in fact, he was told he could not 
raise his house without. He replied, " Then it will never be 
raised." He was an honest man, quiet and undemonstrative in 
disposition, but firm in principle. He united with the church 
in Plymouth under Mr. Hart's ministry. He died August 
9, 1S90. 



402 



mSrOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 



I i 




m^ 



>4 




Residence of Mrs. G H. Bates. 




U^ •^ ^^ 




F^ H. KellogR. 



BIOGKAPIIICAL SKK'rcHES. 403 

FREDEKICK H. KELLOGG. 

Frederick H. Kellogg, son of Deacon Hoi ace and Orpah 
P. Kellogg, was boin in New Hartfoid, July 13, iSoS. Since 
March, 1825, Terryville has been his home. He worked for 
some years in the clock shop, and later, for several years, for the 
Lock Company. He united with the church in Plymouth in 
1S27, and is now (1S95) the only one living of the original 
members of Terryville church formed in 183S. For forty years he 
was a member of the choir. For twenty-five years he has been 
secretary and treasurer of the Terryville institute. He believes 
in Gen. 2 : 18, and five times he has performed well /lis part in 
finding the help-meet whom the Lord had made for him — five 
times has he answered, in a practical way, the question, "A 
virtuous woman, who can find.''" 

He was marrietl in August, 1S33, to Eliza Ann Smith of 
Naugatuck, who died August, 1S44. In January, 1845, he 
married Polly Steele of New Hartlbrd, who died, September, 
1S60. In 1861, he married Mrs. Elvira McKee Goodwin of 
Terryville, who died in 1S70. In 1871, he married the widow 
of his brother, Mrs. Jerusha Spencer Kellogg of New Hartiord, 
who died, April. 1885. In June, 1SS6, he married Mrs. Emeline 
Loomis Peek of New Hartford. By his first wife he had two 
children — Sarah Augusta, afterwards wife of Alltert Bunnell, 
who died in September, 1S76, leaving four sons, and Arthur 
Goodsell, who died at Alexandria, Va. , November, 1S62 — a 
member of Co. C, 2nd C. V. H. A. 

J. STKEET HEMINGWAY. 

Jacob Street Hemingwav was born in East Plymouth, Janu- 
ary 4, 179I1 ^nd died May 28, 1863. He was the son of Deacon 
Jacob and Abigal Lindsey Hemingway, who came from Fair 
Haven, and located in East Plymouth. 

The sul)ject of this sketch spent his life in his native town, 
with the exception of three years of his childhood, which was 
spent in Fair Haven. He followed the occuption of farming in 
summer, and was engaged in the oyster business, with the Hem- 
ingways of Fair Haven, in the winter. He was one of the first 
subscribers to the building of the Terryville Congregational 
Church, where he was a constant attendant and contributed to 
its support during his life. He was a staunch Whig and a great 
admirer of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. He married Polh 
Hinman, daughter of Philemon Hinman, of Harwinton, who 
lived to the ripe old age of ninety-one. 

Their familv consisted of seven children, six of whom are 
still living. The old homestead is at present occupied by a 
granddaughter of Mr. Hemingway's. 

ENOS BLAKESLEE. 

New England People are justlv proud of their ancestr\'. 
Well mav they be, for the man who will dare all for God, is of 



404 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




J. S. Hemincrwav. 




Enos Blakeslee. 



BIOCiHAPHlCAI, SK ETC I IKS 



405 



the sturt" of which iieroes are made. Enos Blakeslee, the 
subject ot this sketch, has such a line ot ancestors. According 
to tradition, one of his ancestry was in the Holy Wars with 
Richard Couer de Lion, while in the early history of the Massa- 
chusetts Colony, two brothers of this blood came accross the sea 
to carve out a future for themselves and their decendants in tlie 
new world. 

Enos Blakeslee was born on Town Hill, August i^, 
1820, near the four corners, and was the son of Jared and Hulda 
Allen Blakeslee. He grew up amid the wholesome influences 
of a New England home, and in 184S, married Adaline E. 
Seymour of Watertown. Three children were born to them — 
Wallace, Frank and Mary. Mr. Blakeslee has always taken a 
keen interest in the educational and moral welfare of the com- 
munity, and has been intrusted by his fellow citizens with 
various public offices. He represented the town in the legisla- 
ture in 1883, has been a member of the district school committee, 
and was for thirteen years clerk of the district. He has also 
served the town on the Board of Relief. Among Enos 
Blakeslee's ancestors was Moses Blakeslee, who was elected 
a deacon of the Congregational church of Plymouth at the time 
of its organization in 1740, and was an influential and honored 
man in his time. Mr. Blakesleee has also been interested in the 
life of the church, serving as treasurer of the society for twentv- 
two 3'ears. 

In business life he has been engaged for more than fifty years 
in carriage building, continuing at the old stand, after all bis 
competitors had either given up the business or moved elsewhere. 
Although the business of carriage building has principally gone 
west, Mr. Blakeslee can still turn out vehicles which will stand 
the hardest of wear and tear. He represents that line of sturdy, 
thoughtful, brainy New England stock that has made this little 
portion of the republic such a f^ictor for good in our national life. 

HON. JOHN KIRGE. 

Hon. John Birge, the son of Nathan L. and Adaline M. 
Birge, is the senator from the Epurth District. He belongs in 
the thriving town of Bristol, where he is one of the leading man- 
ufacturers. He was born in that town August 35, 1853, being 
now forty-two years of age. His education was begun in the com- 
mon schools, and finish bv an academic course at the Lake Forest 
Academy, Lake Forest, 111. Active business early engaged his 
attention. For this he has predilections and uncommon ability. 
He is at present a member of the firm o{ N. L. Birge & Sons. 
Alwnys active in politics, he has been a member of the Republi- 
can State Central Committee for the Fourth District. In this 
important place he discharged his duties with great efficiency, 
being an excellent judge of men and means. Much of the suc- 
cess of the last campaign depended upon his wisdom and fore- 
sight. He is a believer in pure politics and also in the Young 
Men's movement. He was ])resident of the Voung Men's Re- 



406 



mSlORV OF PJ.V.MOUIH. 



" /*^ p^_ 





Hon Jnlin Biri. 




Jc.lm Henrv Wood. 



I'.IOGKAI'lllCAI. SKKTCIIKS. 407 

publican Club, which is assuciated with the State League, and 
has been Chairman of the Republican Town Committee lor 
several terms. He was descended in the tenth generation from 
the author ol" our New England system of town and municipal 
government, the Rev. Thomas Hooker, settler and first minister 
at Hartford in 1636. Senator Birge is also descended in the 
eighth generation of VVm. Smith, a settler at Huntington, L. I. ; 
and again, through a maternal line, in the ninth generation, of 
George Smith of the New Haven Colony of 163S. He is also a 
descendent of EH I'erry and Theophilus Smith, who was a soldier 
in the Revolutio'^n. 

The Birge's are descended from the Puritans, who came 
over on or about the time of the Mayflower. vSenator Birge, in 
1S74, married Miss M. Ant(Mnette Root, daughter of S. E. Root 
of Bristol, by whom he had four children: Adallne, Nathan, 
Marguerite and J. Kingsle\-, all of whom are now living. 



JOHN IlENKV WOOD. 

John Henry Wood was born in PKinouth, June 30, 1S2S. 
He is the oldest son of Henrv and Julia (Ford) Wood, and 
grandson of James and Susan (Elmer) Wood, of East Windsor. 
His mother was a direct descendant of Barnabas Ford, one of 
the earliest settlers of Northbury (now Thomaston), then a part 
of the town of Waterburv, and began early in life to earn his 
own living, working at farming summers and attending school 
during the winter months. 

At the age of fifteen, he received from his father, his time 
as a heritage, and immediatelv contracted with Morse & Blakes- 
lee (both cousins of his), to serve a three years' apprenticeship in 
learning the trade of making clock movements, remaining one 
year in the employ of the firm after the expiration of the term. 
From 184S, with the exception of about nine months, until June 
I, 1S93, he was connected with the Seth Thomas Clock Co., as 
contractor and foreman, and the last thirty years as superintend- 
ent of the clock movement factorv of the com pan v. He was 
married at the age of twenty-one to Mary Ostrom of Torrington, 
by whom he had two children, a daughter and son. The 
daughter, Eliza, married Lieutenant Orsamus B. Sawyer, of 
Company A, Fourteenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, 
and died February 17. 1873, leaving two sons, Frederick H. and 
Wilbur J., and one daughter. v\dio died in infancy. Lieutenant 
Sawyer died November 16, 1S74, leaving his two orphan boys in 
the care of their grandparents. John H. and Mary Wood. 
These grandsons were graduated from the Thomaston High 
School in 18S7, their class being the first to receive diplomas 
from the school. In the fall of 1S90 they entered the class of '94 
W^esleyan Universitv at Middletown, Conn., and would have 
graduated together, but Willnu- was obliged to leave early in his 
senior year, on account of illness, and on March 3, 1894, he 
departed this life. Frederick, the elder grandson, graduated 
witli his class at Wesle\:in. in 1S94. At present he is pursuing 



4oS 



IlISrOKV OF PLYMOUTH. 



A B Cuiti 




Chloe Cook Barne 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 409 

a course of study at the Boston University, School of Theology, 
Boston, Mass. 

The son, Henry O. Wood, assisted his father a number ot 
years by keeping the books of the department under his charge 
with the Seth Thomas Clock Co ; he is now employed as ship- 
ping clerk by the Waterbury Brass Co., Waterbury, Conn. 

Mr. Wood is a public spirited, kind hearted, atiable gentle- 
man, and a man of thorough temperance principles and habits. 
In politics he is a Republican, having been connected with that 
party since its formation. He has been grand juror, school com- 
mittee, and trustee for twenty-nine years of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and was chairman of the building committee 
which erected the present church in 1S66. He was one of the 
original incorporators of the Thomaston Savings Bank, and its 
president at the present time. He was also one of the organizers 
of the Thomaston Knife Co., of which he was chosen president, 
and has served as such up to the present time. 

Mr. Wood was a member of the general assembly of Con- 
necticut from Thomaston in 1S87, having in the election a clear 
majority over three other candidates for the same office ; he was 
assigned by Speaker Hoyt to the committee on banks. 

John Henry Wood's father, Henry Wood, was a cousin of 
John W. Barbour, author of Connecticut Historical Collection, 
published in 1S36, the first history of Connecticut. John Henry's 
mother was Julia Ford, a daughter of Hial Ford and Lucina 
Preston Ford, and Lucina Preston was a sister of Stiles Preston 
and Wursuld Preston Humphreyville of Northfield, who died 
May 26^ 1S93, aged io3 years, three months and fourteen days. 
They were born in Harwinton ; their father was John Preston, 
their mother was a daughter of Deacon Reuben Bristol, and her 
mother was Eleanor Stiles, a daughter of President Ezra Stiles, 
of Yale College. Julia Ford Wood's father was Hial Ford, a 
son of Amos Ford, and grandson of Ebenezer Ford, and a great 
grandson of Barnabas Ford, one of the early settlers of North- 
bury, in that part now ThoiViaston. 

ZENAS COOK. 

Zenas Cook was born in Northbury Society in Waterbury, 
Julv 7, 1773; was the son of Joel, the grandson of Ebenezer, 
and the great grandson of Henry Cook, the first permanent set- 
tler, who is known to have built a house within the bounds of the 
Plymouth of 1780. He was reared by his uncle, the Rev Ros- 
well Cook, of Montville, Conn., and became a surveyor. He 
was one of the surveyors in laying out through the, then wilder- 
ness, a highway from Rochester to Buftalo. Later in life he 
became engaged in the manufacture of wooden clocks, at Water- 
bury, the company of Clark, Cook & Harrison having been 
formed to carry on that business, but still later in life, became a 
farmer. 

Mr. Cook married in February. iSoo, Polly, the daughter 
of Captain Samuel Lewis, Jr., of Plymouth; she died August 



4IO 



lIISrOKV OF PI.^MOU'lH. 




Elias Smitli 




Elias Smith Homestead 



BIOGKAI'llICAI. SKE rCHKS. 



411 



24, 1809. May 20, 1810, lie married Betsy, the daughter ol" Col. 
Phineab Porter, who died April 25, 1S51. His children were : 
William, Sarah Curtis, George L., Lucieii Porter, Harriet M., 
Catharine L. and Mary Elizabeth. 

Joel Cook, father of Zenas, was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ar}- war; in order that he might visit his family during the en- 
campment of his company at Danbury, Joel's father, Eljenezer 
Cook, agreed to take his son's place and answer to his name on 
the roll call, but while there he died with the distemper and was 
retinned on the death roll as Joel Cook, thus releasing Joel from 
service; but his patriotism led him back to the army and served 
through the war, receiving with his friend, Capt. Camp, an hon- 
orable discharge. 

Ebenezer Cook had three sons at Yale College, two of 
whom, Roswell and Justus, were ministers of the gospel. Uri, 
the third son, entered college, but soldiers were needed more 
than scholars, so he left and entered the army, only to die with 
that latal camp fever in three weeks' time. He is said to have 
been a brilliant young man. 

ELIAS SMITH. 

Elias Smith, son of Sanuiel and Hannah Stacy Smith, was 
born in Wallingford, May 17, 1S06. He came to Terry ville 
in 1829, and worked at joiner work for Eli Terry ; after that he 
worked at cases in the clock shop. His father came to Terry- 
ville the year following, and lived on a small farm about a mile 
north of the village. On the Harwinton road, where August 
Matts now lives. He bought the farm of John Atkins. He was 
a cooper by trade, as was also Elias. He died in 1849, and his 
wife in 1873, aged ninety-four. Mr. Smith traced his ancestry back 
to one Thomas Smith, who was among the first that landed in New 
Haven, in 1637. Thomas Smith was the cooper of the colony, 
and each generation since, has had one of the same trade. He 
married Nancy Goodale, a native of East Windsor, in 183 1. Of 
seven children, four survive ; two died in infancy. A son, Ed- 
ward P. Smith, a member of Co. I, First Connecticut Heavy 
Artillery, died at Fort Richards, December 10, 1861, he was 
the first soldier that died, from Plymouth; the eldest, Oliver 
E., now living in Chicopee, Mass., married Antoinette Alcott, 
of Wolcott ; Elizabeth married Oscar F. Wilcox; Eugenie E., 
married Frederick Ryal, now in New Haven, who at one time 
manufactured shears and scissors, under the firm name of Ryal 
Bros., in what is called the Burnam-Terry shop; Samuel G. 
married [ennie Johnson, of Harwinton. 

One very pleasant incident in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith, was the celebration of their golden wedding, in 1881, 
when neighbors and friends filled the house, both afternoon and 
evening, to congratulate them on this great event. Mrs. Smith 
died in 1893, after a short illness. Mr. Smith died August 8, 
189=^, at the age of eightv-nlne, at the home of his daughter, in 
Chicopee, Mass. With the exception of a year and a half, his life 



413 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Joel Griggs. 



^^^^ 


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.1 J 


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HbL- 


M 


i^^HH 


^^^^^ 


v: 


^^ P^^l 




w 


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y l^^^^^l 




i 


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RP ' 


[ 


1 w^'^'^'^^S^^ 



Martin Griggs. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 413 

lias been spent, since 1S29, on a farm north of the viHage, which 
he pnrchased of Henry Atwater, the father of the author of this 
book. 

LUDINGTON POTTER FAMILY. 

Aloses Ludington settled near Caleb Humiston's present 
residence. He was a surgeon in the French and Indian war and 
was killed at Lake George in 1755. Of his children, David 
Ludington, born August 26, 1733, alone settled in Northbury. 
July 36, 1753 his father deeded, "-For the consideration of the 
love and paternal affection which I have and do bear toward my 
loving son, David Ludington, a certain piece of land bought of 
Dr. Jonas Weed;" the land has never been sold and is now a 
part of the farm of G. S. and S. F. Potter, his decendants. Dr. 
Weed was the tirst physician in Northbury. 

David Ludington was a powerful man, a skillful and pei- 
sislent hunter; he shot the last deer killed in the town, and was 
one of the tifteen who " bore lists" during the entire pastorate 
of Rev. Chauncey Prindle, in which the present edifice of St. 
Peter's church was built. He married Lois Basit, one of four 
sisters who came to Northbury. Their children were Susannah, 
Lois, Jotham and Patience. He died October 31, 1S31. 

The daughters never married and always lived in the old 
place. Jotham Ludington, born July 11, 1763, married Abigal 
Anna Latin, April 37, 1794. They had one child, Polly, born 
March 9, 179^^. His second marriage was with Beulah Fair- 
child, February 19, 179S; he died July 8, 1S48. Polly Luding- 
ton married Sherman Potter. March 13, 1816. He was son of 
Zenas and Betsy Blakeslee Potter, born August 3, 1790, and a 
lineal decendant ot Jacob Potter who settled in Northbury about 
173S, and of Captain Thomas Blakeslee. He was a school 
teacher and surveyor, and private secretaiy for Gen. Wm. 
Henry Harrison in the war of iSr3. He died, September 5, 
1S31. Their children were Mary Ann, Sarah, Betsev, George 
Sherman, Jane Phinette and Shelden Fairchild. Each and all 
of the grandfathers and great grandfathers of these children 
were incorporators of the town of Plymouth. 

Mary Ann was born, June 30, 1819, married .Samuel Forbes 
of New Haven, and died, April 33, 1S93, leaving two children; 
Alfred W. Forbes, now serving his seventh term as selectman 
of New Haven ; and Mary Anne wife of Dr. Gustavus Eliott of 
New Haven. Sarah was born, July 31, 1S21 and lives on the 
old place (now in Thomaston) with the brothers G. S. and S. 
F. Potter. Betsey, was born. May 31, 1833, married George 
Gordon, a native of Scotland, and has two sons, George Luding- 
ton and Arthur Mnnroe Arthur M. married Mary S. Ailing. 
George Sherman was born, October 16, 1825. Jane Phinette 
was born October 16, 1837, married Lysander M. Burnell, and 
died July 11, 1S77, at Jefferson, 111. Sheldon Fairchild was 
born March 17, 1830, married Leora Andrus. They have two 
children, Mary Leora and Geoige Andrus Potter. 



414 



HISTORY OF PI.YMOUIH. 




Franklin P. WilcdX. 




Wilbert N. Austin. 



bio(;kap]iical sketches. 415 

fkanklix p. wilcox. 

Franklin Phelps Wilcox was born in the town of Hai win- 
ton, Conn., February 6, 1S06, and died in Plymouth, where he 
resided the most of his life, Alay S, 1882. His early days were 
spent upon the farm, but the latter part of his life he was en- 
gaged in the japanning department of the Eagle Lock works, 
where he had the contract for that class of work. He married 
Emeline Holcomb of New York State, who died in Plymouth, 
October 13, 1SS8. 

Uncle Wilcox (the name he was familiarly known by), was 
somewhat of a joker, and always enjoyed a good joke. About 
1876, as he had finished painting a wagon, there appeared on the 
scene a half dozen small boys who wanted a ride, he hesitated a 
while, for fear some harm might befall them, but finally took 
them. A week latter several more wanted a ride, claiming thev 
did not go the first time, so he decided to go once more, if thev 
would then leave him alone, and told them to find out how man\- 
wanted to go. After an appai^ently hard weeks' work they asked 
him if he could go on Saturday, when he replied that he could, 
but wanted to know how many had promised to go. Their answer 
was: ''eighty have promised to go, and lots more can't tell 
whether their mothers will let them go or not." On Saturday 
there were ninety-five of them, and through the help of Uncle 
Wilcox's friends, they were all taken to a grove to spend the 
day. Thus, Uncle Wilcox became, through his thought and 
ever readv willingness to amuse and care for others, the favorite 
of all, both young and old. 

WILBERT N. AUSTIN. 

Wilbert N. Austin who is well known throughout this sec- 
tion as the proprietor of the Thomaston and Plymouth stage 
line, his well equipped livery, sale and exchange stables in 
Thomaston and Plymouth, came to this place about eighteen 
years ago, and for seven years drove the stage for his father, 
when Mr. Austin bought his father out and entered into partner- 
ship with Mr. Gregory ; Austin & Gregory running the business 
for about five years, at which time Mr. Austin became the sole 
proprietor, and has since conducted the business successfully, 
and to his patrons' entire satisfaction ever since. 

In addition to the above business he has the carrying of the 
mails to and between four post-offices and two railroads. He 
also has charge of the delivery of express from the New England 
and the N. Y., N. H. & H. "^Railroads. But few families are 
moved, or pianos moved in the town, until after Mr. Austin has 
been called upon. 

He married on December 20, 18S2, IMinnie I., daughter of 
Chas. H. Mattoon of Plymouth ; they reside in the large and 
pretty house owned by Mrs. Geo. Langdon, and directly oppo- 
site the house bought by Mr. Austin from Mr. Dewell sometime 
ago. Their children are: Elsworth Welles, Arline and Roland 
Mattoon. 



4i6 



HISTORY OF PI.YMOUTW. 




A. S. Kelsey. 




AiiJrt'w Fenii. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 417 

A. S. KELSEV. 

Asa Strong Kelsey was born June 15, 1S33, in Southbury, 
Conn. His early life was oassed in Milford, Conn. He has 
resided in Plymouth since 1S45, a period of fifty years. He 
married in August, 1S50, Julia S. Gates, daughter of Christopher 
C. Gates, of East Haddam, and granddaughter of Captain 
Jeremiah Smith, who served in the Revolutionary war. 

Mr. Kelsey has been a prominent business man of the town, 
his special line being merchant tailoring, in which he did a large 
business before the days of ready-made clothing. He has held 
manv town offices and taken an active interest in the town. His 
children are Julia S. Kelsey, wife of Marshall W. Leach, Emma 
S. Kelsey, Frank G. Kelsey and Joseph S. Kelsey. 

ANDREW FENN. 

Andrew Fenn was born in the old house which is now oc- 
cupied by Erastus Fenn, near the upper lock factory. This house 
was built by Jacob Fenn in 1781, and the land in that section 
(now covered with houses) was farmed by both Jacob and An- 
drew Fenn. Mr. Fenn followed farming for a great many years, 
but during the latter part of his life he was engaged in making 
boxes for the Eagle Lock Company. He married Miss Rhoda 
Warner of Plymouth in 1S17, bv whom he had the following 
sons: Hiram, born July, 191S; ApoUos, born 1820, died in 
Hartford in 1S93; Stephen, born 1S23 ; Erastus, born 1829. 
Andrew Fenn died December 15, 1S67, aged seventy years. 

CAPTAIN AARON FENN. 

Captain Aaron Fenn, born in Milford, a great grandson oi' 
Benjamin Fe..n, one of the first settlers of Milford in 1639, came 
to Northbury Society about the year 1767, and settled on a tract 
of land, about one mile north of the meeting house, willed to 
him by his grandfather James, who was one of the early proprie- 
tors of Waterbury lands. A portion of this tract is now owned 
and cultivated by his descendents, Aaron Peck Fenn, and the 
heirs of William B. Fenn. Captain Aaron married Mary 
Bradley of Woodbridge. They have seven children, Lvman, 
Sally, Aaron, Jr., Erastus, Polly, David and Jeremiah. 

Lyman married Lydia Baldwin. They had seven children, 
Aaron, Thaddeus, Timothy, Albert, Polly, Thankful and Persis. 

Sally married Deacon David Dunbar. They had two chil- 
dren. Deacon Ferrand and Eliza. 

Aaron, Jr., married Sabra Fenn, daughter of Isaac. They 
had six children, Isaac, Burr, Abijah, Rosetta, Nancy Rexford 
and William Bennett. 

Erastus married Amanda Goodwin. Thev had six chil- 
dren, Mary, Polly, Elizur, Julia, John Lester and Emily. 

Polly died unmarried. 

David married Persis, daughter of Lake Potter. They had 
five children, Julius, Elam Potter, Miranda, Juliette and Mary. 



4iS 



HISTORY OF PI.YMOUTM. 




Andrew Fenn Homestead 




Mrs Benjamin Fenn. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 419 

Jeremiah married Polly Peck of Woodbridge. They had 
three children, Aaron Peck, Stephen and Horace. 

The only grandchildren of Captain Aaron Fenn who are 
now living are, Elizur and John Lester Fenn, and ]Mrs. Emily 
(Lyman D.) Baldwin, all children of Erastus; Abijah, son of 
Aaron, Jr. ; Elam Potter Fenn, Mrs, Mary Paine, children of 
David; Aaron Peck and Horace Fenn, children of Jeremiah. 

SAMUEL FENN. 

Samuel Fenn, a brother of Captain Aaron, came to North- 
bury Society about the year 1767 and settled on another portion 
of land willed to him by his grandfather, James, located on the 
hill east of Jericho Falls on the Naugatuck river, now in the 
limits of Thomaston and owned by Roderick Canfield. Samuel 
married Irene Sanford, and there were four generations of Sam- 
uel to vSamuel 5th. A remnant of this family are supposed to 
be living in Michigan. 

Major .Samuel Fenn, anothei lineal descendant of Ben- 
jamin Fenn, came from Milford to Plymouth in 1S06 or 1S07, 
with his two sons, Captain Samuel and Benjamin, and one 
daughter, Cordelia. He purchased farms in the eastern part of 
the town, lately owned and occupied by Mr. Winslow and Elias 
Smith. The writer could not ascertain that any lineal descend- 
ant of Major Samuel is now living in Plymouth. Of the chil- 
dren of Benjamin Fenn there are two living, Mrs. Amzi Warner 
of Cheshire and Mrs. Charles Hayes of New Haven. The 
three sons, Benjamin, Lot and Lyman, are dead, and with them 
have also passed away the two sons of Lyman, leaving no 
descendants to perpetuate this branch of the Fenn family. Two 
other daughters were Catherine and Julia, the former being 
married to Henry Atwater, and the latter to Newton P. Whit- 
tlesey, all of whom are dead. 



420 



lllSrOlO' OK IM.VMOU'IH. 



r 




L. H. Ploucquut, Master, Pl\ iiK.iuth Grange 




General Sedgwick. 



CHAPTER XIV 



sociE rii-;s. 



Plymouth Grange, No. 72, Patrons of Husbandry, Organized December 7, 1877— 
Sedgwick Council, No. 21, 0. TJ. A. M., Instituted March 16, 1887— Court Nut- 
meg, No. 1404, Chartered October 20. 1893-The Terryville Cemetery, with 
Views from Several Points. 

PLVAJOUTH Grange, No. 73, is one of the subordinate organi- 
zations of the great order of Patrons of Husbandry, antl was 
organized in Plymouth Center, December 7, 1887, with twenty- 
three charter members, the first meeting being held in the lecture 
room. Wallace E. Dayton was chosen master, Mrs. B. H. Sut- 
liff, lecturer, and Ard Welton, secretary. The grange was 
instituted for the express purpose of educating and elevating 
those engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is, therefore, a farm- 
ers' organization, composed of farmers, their wives, and children 
over fourteen years old, although there are some exceptions to 
the rule ; doctors, ministers and school teachers are also eligible. 
From this beginning the grange has had a steady growth until it 
now numbers 106 members, including nearly all the leading 
farmers of the town. L. H. Ploucquet is the recognized head of 
the grange, at present, he having been elected master at the be- 
ginning of the year. His picture accompanies this sketch. The 
grange now own the building on Main street next to the post 
office, in Plymouth Center, and have a well furnished hall where 
meetings are held every alternate Wednesday evening. One 
prominent feature at each meeting is the "lecturer's hour." 
This is composed of select readings, essays, and discussions on 
farm topics, recitations, music and debates. In fact, anything 
that pertains to the household or the farm. This gives the farm- 
er and his family an opportunity for social intercourse and intel- 
lectual improvement, which, owing to their isolated vocation, 
were it not for the grange, they would be deprived of. " In 
essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity," 
is one of the underlving principles of the order. 

SEDGWICK COUNCIL, O. U. A. M. 

Sedgwick Council, No. 21, O. U. A. M., was instituted in 
Terryville by the vState Council, March 16, 1S87, with the fol- 



422 



IIISTOKV OF PLYMOUril. 




L W. BelJeii. Chief Ranger. 




TertNville Cemetery -View from Southeast Corner. 



SOCIETIES. 



423 



lowing charter members: John R. Andrew, David H. Scrim- 
geour, Richard Baldwin, A. B. Clark, F. G. Bryan, R. S. 
Blakeslee, J. Alexander Russell, G. A. Scott, A. B. Beach, F. 
W. Rossetter, W. Bemis, A. W. Ingraham, James P. Davis, 
Edgar L. Pond, Charles W. Judson, Henry A. Randall, J. M. 
Gilbert, R. J. Plumb, A. C. Wedge, J. A. ]5radshaw, E. C. 
Goodwin, H, T. Wheeler, G. N. Waterbury, Jr., W. B. Ells, 
Charles J. Lang, F. B. Rising, W. L. Norton, George N. 
Waterbury, J. K. Eggleston, W. T. Goodwin, A. C. Holcomb, 
Daniel Kelley, J. H. Haase, W. P. Swett, M. D., W. E. Judd, 
G. Howard Hamilton, George Von Tobel. 

This council was the first organized in Litchfield county. 
It was also the first to present the public schools with American 
flags. The present meml)ershi]) numbers about sixty, one of the 
charter members, E. L. Pond, having served as state councilor. 
The council meets every W'ednesday evening in a room, which 
has been fitted up ibr it, in the Lewis & Gaylord shop, which is 
the same room that one of its charter members, Major Ells, was 
working in when he was called upon to serve his country in the 
late war. The present ofticers are: D. W. Eggleston, coun- 
cilor; F. A. Bunnell, vice-councilor; E. Clayton Goodwin, 
recording secretary; Isaac B. Clark, assistant recording secre- 
tary; A. B. Beach, treasurer; C. E. Chapman, ir.ductor; A. F. 
Peck, examiner: George F. Hart, inside protector: Albert 
Bates, outside protector; William C. Bates, junior ex-councilor ; 
Piatt R. Jacquays, senior ex-councilor; E. L. Pond, William 
L. Norton, A. C. Bunnell, trustees. 



THE FORESTEKS. 

The Independent Order of Foresters is of American origin, 
was reorganized in Canada, and now returns to its native soil in 
concord, benevolence and liberty. Court Nutmeg, No. 1404, 
was instituted in Plymouth, Conn., from the supreme court bv 
Dr. A. P. Forbes Gammack acting as court deputy supreme 
chief ranger, and is the premier court of the order in Connecti- 
cut. The charter, dated October 20, 1S93, was granted by the 
supreme court to these officers, their associates and their succes- 
sors in office: M. W. Leach, court deputy high chief ranger; 
W. C. Dayton, chief ranger; B. D. Holt, vice chief ranger; 
J. W. Gammack, financial secretary; Rev. Dr. J. Gammack, 
chaplain; L. W^. Belden, senior woodward; J. C. vSmith, 
senior beadle ; A. Welton, past chief ranger ; Joseph Williams, 
recording secretary; W. B. Tuttle, treasurer; J.W.Johnson, 
JM. D., physician; F. C. Brazee, junior woodward, and G. H. 
Chapman, junior beadle. The object before the Independent 
Foresters is to promote the social, intellectual and moral welfare 
of the members, and to secure by small payments, the funds 
required for sick and funeral benefits, and also for payment of 
insurance at death or at the earlier expectation of life. The 
present chief ranger of the court is L. W. Belden. 



4-4 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 




Soldiers' 
i\'\onument. 



View from 
Northeast 
Corner. 





I New Addition to 
Westward. 



SOCIETIES. 



425 



HILLSIDE CEMETERY, TEKKVVILLE. 

In March, 1S63, there were two and three-fourths acres of 
land bought from Mrs. Mary VV. Lewis, situated on North Main 
street, to be laid out and used for a new cemetery, and, at that 
time, it was voted that a special standing committee ot three 
persons be appointed to make a survey and plan for the new 
burial ground of Terry ville, and to lay the same in lots of suit- 
able size for lamily plots, and to have full power to sell and to 
execute proper deeds of conveyance of the same to the purchasers 
thereof, and that the proceeds of sale be appropriated by said 
committee to the improvement and embellishment of said ground, 
provided that only two- thirds of the whole number of said lots 
be sold ; also that said committee shall have the general super- 
vision and direction of that portion of the ground which may 
remain unsold ; and it is further voted, that the signature of one 
of said committee only be necessary for the conveyance of the 
aforesaid lots. The committee chosen at that time was J. H. 
Adams, James Terry and E. L. Gaylord. x\n addition was 
made to the site May 10, 1S90, by purchasing four acres from 
George Plumb, and the strip of land donated by Richard Bald- 
win, which straightened out the road running east and west. 
The present committee are: E. S. Beach, president and man- 
ager; [onathan Starr, secretary and treasurer, and Edgar L. 
Pond. ' 




View of Center of Cemetery. 



SKETCH 



PLYMOUTH, OHIO 






Originally Settled by Families 



FROM PLYMOUTH, CONN. 






Re-union of Descendants, now Numbering 
about 400, June 25, 1895'. 

WHO THE PIONEERS WERE. 



CHAPTER X \' 



PLYMOUTH, OHIO. 



Offshoot of Its Namesake in Connecticut and the First Episcopal Parish in the 
State of Ohio— Descendants oi These Early Settlers, Numbering Four Hun- 
dred or More, Organize Themselves as the "Mann, Blakeslee and Seymour 
Ee-union Association." 

A GLANCE at the map of Ohio, will convince any one, that the early 
settlers of that state were an unusally loyal, patriotic body of men. 
The larger number of counties are named directly after the heroes of 
the Revolution, in grateful remembrance of their noble self-sacrificino- 
labors. The first settlement in Ohio was named Washington, and the 
county seat called Mariette, in honor of Marie Antoinette, the beautiful 
Queen of France. Among the prominent counties are Jefferson, Madi- 
son, Hamilton, Fayette, Carroll, Hancock, Jackson, Greene, Knox, 
Lawrence, Wayne, Stark, Adams, Warren, Henry, and others, all 
names recorded in historj^ and held in sincere regard by everv lover of 
his country. 

The Western Reserve, comprising about 325,000,000 acres, was sold 
by the State of Connecticut, to a .syndicate of her sons, for a sum about 
equal to the cost of building the viaduct across the Cuyahoga River at 
Cleveland. The early settlers of New Connecticut, as the Reserve was 
called, were nearly all New England men and women, bred to labor, 
economical, frugal, industrious, patient, intelligent, God fearing, believ- 
ing in schools, colleges, churches, and liberty protected by law. The 
growth of the Reserve was slow, until after the war of 1812, when it 
became the homes of tens of thousands of emigrants. The character of 
the early settlers gave promise of a secure future for the new colony, 
which time has fully redeemed. It is probably true, beyond question, 
that at this moment, the Western Reserve, for its extent and population, 
is not surpassed in any country, for the thrift, general prosperity, public 
and private morality, and high standard of education of its people. In 
1S06, the Reserve contained about six thousand souls, and was divided 
into two counties. In 1895, it had ten counties, and nearly a milli(_)n 
inhabitants. 

In 1811-12, several families went from Plymouth, Conn., and settled 
in South Ashtabula. The name of the township was soon after changed 
to Ph'mouth, in compliance with the wishes of the original settlers. 
Nearly all the early emigrants were Episcopalians, and their first wor- 



430 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



ship was by lay-reading, led by Zadoc Mann, who presided, until the 
arrival of Rev. Roger Searle, their former minister in Plymouth, who 
held service in the house of Hal Smith first, on February ig, 1817, and 
immediately followed the organization of "The Parish of St. Peter's 
Church, Ashtabula," the first Episcopal denomination in the State of 
Ohio. Mr. Searle named the parish after the one he had formerly pre- 
sided over in Plymouth. 

As near as can be learned, at this late date, the families that went 
from Plymouth, Conn., were those of Zadoc Mann, Warner Mann, John 
Blakcslee, Asher Blakeslee. Lynus Hall, Titus Seymour, Dr. David 
Warner and Elias Cook Upson. There were, doubtless, others. 

C)riginally, Plymouth Town.ship was included in the limits of Ash- 
tabula, and it was not until Januarj^ 7, 183S, that the territ(_)ry was, by 
order of the County Commissioners, detached from that township, and 
created a new one, to be known as Township No. 12, of the third range. 





St. Matthew's Churcli. 



On July 4, 1838, the township was regularly organized and these 
officers elected: Samuel Burnet, Andrew Wiley and William Stewart, 
trustees; Levi P. Blakeslee, township clerk; Bennet vSeymour, treasurer; 
Elias Cook Upson and William Foster, overseers of poor; Joseph Mann, 
James Hall and Solomon A. vSimons, fence viewers; Bennet Seymour, 
Solomon A. Simons, Elias C. Upson and Merritt M. Mann, supervisors. 
The first Justice of the Peace, was Warner Mann, who was elected on 
the gth day of November, 1838, his commission bearing date November 
26, 1838. This election was held at the house of the justice elect. 
Warner Mann was succeeded by Josiah Allen, and he, by Wells Blakes- 
lee. Previous to the expiration of Warner Mann's commission, how- 
ever, a second justice was ordered for the township, and Daniel Hub- 
bard was the first to fill the office. Levi P. Blakeslee succeeded him, 
and was in turn succeeded by Samuel Burnet. 

The township was originally owned by Nehemiah Hubbard, of 
Middletown, Middlesex County, Conn., Hon. Matthew Hubbard, who 
located in A.shtabula in 1804, being agent for the proprietor. 



PLYMOUTH, OHIO. 43 I 

The first settlement, within the present limits of the township, 
were as follows: In 1S04 or 1S05, Wm. Thompson and Thomas Mc- 
Gahhe, with their families, located on lot number five. In the spring 
of 1806, Samuel White began improvements on two hundred acres, upon 
the north line of the township. Fitz's woolen factory was subsequently 
established on this lot, which was later owned by Ezra Bunnell. David 
Burnet settled on lot number twelve, also in the spring of 1806. This 
lot was afterwards owned by Wells Blakeslee ; then Oliver Gary became 
occupant. Both White and Burnet came from Hubbard, Trumbull 
County. In 1807, Thomas Gordon purchased two hundred and forty 
acres, in lot number six, and in the spring of 180S, took possession of 
the same with his family. William Foster, of Sacket's Harbor, New 
York, arrived in the township in 18 10, locating on lot number ten. His 
mode of transit was by a small boat to Ashtabula ; at Niagara Falls, he 
hired a team to haul his boat some seven miles around the falls. Cap- 
tain Moses Hall emigrated from Connecticut in 181 r, and began the life 
of a pioneer on the northwest corner lot. 

The first log house was erected in 1S04 or 1S05, on lot number five, 
by William Thompson, the oldest inhabitant, who removed from the 
township in 1807. The first orchard was planted by Samuel White, 
in the spring of 1807. It was located on his farm, near the pond, and 
consisted of forty trees. They first bore fruit in iSii, which was, with- 
out doubt, the first produced within the territory composing the town- 
ships of Phanouth and Ashtabula. Capt. Moses Hall was the owner of 
the orchard at this time, and it is said he distributed nearly the entire 
yield of the orchard, among the sick of the township. 

Upon the first settlement of the Plymouth pit)neers, the only road 
was the "girdled" one, laid out by the Connecticut Land Cimipany, 
running from Kelloggsville, via Sheftield, through Plymouth, and west 
through Saybrook, Austinburg, etc., terminating at or near Cleveland. 
The first road authorized by the county commissioners, after Plymouth 
became a separate township, was in June, 1842, which began on the 
Jefferson and Ashtabula road, at William Willard's northwest corner, 
thence east on lot lines to Denmark road. March, 1844, another road 
was surveyed, running from William Stewart's, northeast and north, to 
the road south of Amos Moses, in Kingsville. March, 1S50, the last one 
was established from the southwest corner of the township, north to the 
turnpike, and from the west line of the township, at the northwest corner 
of lot number eighty, easterly to the plank road. 

Much of the western portion of the town.ship is of high rolling 
ground, while in the southern part extensive marshes prevail, the larg- 
est of which is some three miles in length, and averaging, perhaps, 
three-quarters of a mile in width ; its waters, flowing westerly, are dis- 
charged into Grand River, in Austinburg. South of the "big marsh," 
lie two smaller ones, which are separated by a natural roadway, over 
which the mail was carried to Jefferson, until the opening of the Frank- 
lin division of the Lake Shore Railroad. The waters of these two 
mar.shes flow, one easterly, into Ashtabula Creek, the other westerly, 
into Grand River. 

The streams, aside from Ashtabula Creek, which forms a portion 
of the northern boundary of the township, are Hubbard's Run, which 



432 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



rises principally from springs in Saybrook, and forms another part of 
the noi'thern boundary, uniting with Ashtabula Creek, about one mile 
southeast of the village of Ashtabula (known as the West Gulf). vSmith 
Creek, which heads in the southern j^art of the township, runs easterly, 
uniting with the waters of " Little Marsh," and finally reaches Ashta- 
bula Creek in Sheffield. 

The first marriage occurred in iSio, at the residence of Captain 
Manoah Hubbard, the contracting parties being his daughter. Miss 
Julia, and Walker Richmond, of New York. The first white child 
born in Phnnouth, was a son to David Burnet, in 1.S07, and tlie first 
death was, without doubt, a widow lady named Hanan, who died in 
the spring of 1807. The first school liouse was built in the summer of 
iSio. It was of logs, and stood in the "hollow," a short distance south 
of the present cemetery, on the farm formerly owned by Asher Blakes- 
lee, and the fii'st school taught therein, was in the succeeding winter. 




St. Matthew's Church Parsonage. 



by Warner Mann. There were twelve scholars in attendance, the par- 
ents pajdng each his share of the teacher's salary, whicli was, un- 
doubtedly, a trifling sum. The first saw mill was erected in iSoij, by 
Thomas (xordon, on the site where, afterwards, was located a woolen 
mill. In the spring of 1S31, Emmerson Gibbs put in operation, a card- 
ing machine, and in the fall of the same year, cloth-dres,sing machinery. 
The next season, a mill for grinding corn, was placed in the same 
building. In 1839 this site was purchased by Messrs. Hubbel and Ken- 
ney, and a woolen factory, of one hundred and eighty spindles, estab- 
lished. This was destroyed by fire on the night of December 24, 1S47. 
' The first frame hou.se was built by Captain Moses Hall, on the north- 
west corner lot, and the first frame school house \vas erected in the 
.spring of 1S17, by subscription; its location was some three quarters of 
a mile north of the Center (known as the Chapel). 

The first church organization, was that of the Episcopal dent)mina- 
tion. However, services were held bj- all denominati(.)ns, from the time 



PLYMOUTH, OHIO. 433 

of the first settlements, at the houses of the settlers, and at the frame 
school house, or chapel, mentioned above. There are now two fine 
church edifices in the township: St. ]\Iathew's Episcopal, which is 
located some half mile east of the Center, erected in 1841, and the 
Methodist at the Center, which was not finished till, perhaps, 1874. The 
first post office, and, in fact, the only one in the township, was estab- 
lished June 16, 1846. William Warner Mann was the first postmaster, 
serving twelve 5^ears. The first store was established in 1S49, t)y Wil- 
liam W. Mann, in a building, then standing between the school house 
and the residence of Charles Wright. Mr. Mann continued in business 
some ten years in Plymouth, removing first to East Ashtabula, where 
he engaged in the mercantile business, for two years more, and then 
moved to the corner of Center and Park streets, Ashtabula. In 1824, 
and for the five years subsequently, he was engaged as mail-boy for the 
"Recorder," published in Ashtabula, which paper was, probably, the 
first one published in Ashtabula county. Peter LaGrange also con- 
ducted a store in Plymouth for some years. Plymouth has been largely 
devoted to the manufacture of butter and cheese, principally by indiv- 
iduals. 

Dviring the Rebellion, Plymouth sent many of her brave sons to the 
front in support of the flag and defense of the integrity of the nation, 
having representatives in the " Glorious old Twenty-ninth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry," the " One Hundred and Fifth," the " One Hundred and 
Twenty-fifth," " Eleventh New York Battery," and other organizations. 
They gave to their State and the Union, their bravest efforts, and much 
of their best blood. 

Much of the above information has been copied from the History of 
Ashtabula County, and the author is also greatly indebted to Mrs. Ellen 
S. Lockwood for other facts presented in this sketch. Of her own 
family Mrs. Lockwood writes as follows : 

"In Plymouth, Ohio, is a house, the frame of which was raised 
May 18, 1 8 19, the day on which my father was born, the stakes for the 
corners being set by moonlight by the north star, so that it might be 
" square with the world." It was built by Warner Mann, my grand- 
father, who moved his family into it the same fall. My father, Beilby 
Porteus Mann, was born in a log house opposite to it. Warner Mann 
lived in this house about thirteen years, when Elias Cook Upson took 
possession of it. Mr. Upson was my mother's father. My mother was 
born in Plymouth, Conn., March 3, 1825, and here I was born, October 
17, 1845. My grandmother died July 21, 1S60, and my grandfather in 
March, 1879. The old house is still owned by my parents and is in a 
good state of preservation, the frame apparently as good as ever. My 
parents celebrated their golden wedding May 19, 1892." 

Mrs. Hannah Maria Graham McNutt, who now keeps the post 
office, relates, that in 1S20, Harry Graham and wife, and one child, 
came to Plymouth, Ohio. Mrs. Graham's name was Elizabeth Miller, 
from New York State. Mr. Graham was born in Philadelphia, and went 
to Canada. They both came to Ashtabula at the same time, before they 
were married, in a boal; owned by him, and located in Plymouth in 
1S18, two miles from any inhabitants, in the woods, on the same ground 
that is now occupied as a station, on the Jamestown and Franklin Div- 



434 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



ision of the Lake Shore Railroad. All the goods they had were drawn 
in on a hand sled. He payed for his farm by clearing two acres for one, 
and had the first crop of wheat. Zadoc Mann, owned goo acres 
of land here, heavily timbered, which he bought for twenty-five cents 
an acre. He gave each of his children a farm, gave ground for a 
church lot and sold the balance in that way. All the music they had in 
those days, was the howling of the wolves, and the mother's cradle 
song. They fed the wild turkeys, by raising the back window and 
throwing out corn. Mrs. McNutt, to-dav, cooks dinner in the same 
kettle that her father and mother brought from Canada, in the boat 
with them, in iSiS. 

Of the original settlers from plymouth. Conn., or their descendants, 
the following notices have been copied: 

William Warner, son of Warner Mann, born in Ashtabula, Ohio, 
June 22, 1813, died May 24, 1880. Grandson of Zadoc. 

Elias Cook Upson, born in Waterbury, Conn., Dec. 16, 1797; mar- 
ried Orra, daughter of Bella Blakeslee, March 31, 1824; died March, 








Plymouth School. 



1879. He was a Mason over fifty-four years, and took charge of the 
church over forty years, without pay. 

Meret L. Satterlee, son of Clara Blakeslee Satterlee, born in Con- 
necticut, went to Chicago in 1S36, died January 28, 1S94. 

Died in Plymouth, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1894 — Mrs. Clara Casady, daugh- 
ter of the late Stephen and Amanda Mann, and granddaughter of Jos- 
eph Mann, wife of Charles Casady, aged forty-four years. 

In Ashtabula, nth inst. (year unknown), Henry Jude Blakeslee 
Seymour, son of Titus Seymour, aged seventy-three years. 

Hon. Andrew W. Mann, son of Warner Mann (by last wife), iKirn 
in Plymouth, Ohio, September 4, 1845, and died at his home, in Burr 
Oak, Kansas, May 9, 1890. He was a member of Company C. 29th 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was transferred from the Army to the 
Navy in 1864; served nine months on the monitor, Winnebago, and 
three months on the Circassian. 



PLYMOUTH, OHIO. 435 

Robert Seymour died March 25, 1S75, aged eighty years. Mehssa, 
his wife, died February i, 1S63, aged seventy -four years. 

Asher Blakesleee died June 4, 1831, aged sixty years. Charlotte, 
his wife, died May 13, iSrS, in the thirty-seventh year of her age. 

Collins Wetmore died July 14, 1859, aged seventy-two years. Maria 
Wetmore died December 15, 1S80, aged eighty-four years and six days. 

Amanda Mann died August 30, 1S53, aged sixty-four years. 

Zadoc Mann died September 29, 1S46, aged eighty-seven years. 
Hannah, his wife, died January 21, 1S46, aged seventy-six years. 
Esther, his first wife, died July 9, 1825, aged sixty-six years. 

Clara Blakeslee Satterlee died April 30, 1874, aged eighty-two years. 

Warner Mann, born February 16, 1784, died May 27, 1S58. 

Died in Plymouth, Ohio, May 15, 1S92, Mrs. Amanda Mann, the 
widow of the late Stephen Mann (son of Joseph), and daughter of Mrs. 
Clara Blakeslee Satterlee, aged seventy-one years, two months and 
nineteen days. 

In Plymouth, Ohio, loth inst., Mrs. Sophia G. Mann, second widow 
of Joseph Mann, aged ninety-six years. 

Died at McGregor, Iowa, July 19, 1883, Mrs. Amanda Mann Mat- 
thews, wife of Isaac Matthews, and daughter Warner Mann. She died 
on her fifty-sixth birthday. 

Died in Ashtabula 20th inst., of paralysis, Frances A., widow of 
Garwood Blakeslee, aged 69 years. 

In Plymouth, O., February 20, Mrs. Olive Lewis, widow of Wm. 
Lewis, and daughter of Bela Blakeslee, aged eighty-one years. Mrs. 
Lewis was born in Plymouth, Conn., March 13, iSoi. 

John G. Blakeslee died September 29, 1828, aged thirty-nine years. 
Esther R., his wife, died August 20, 1865, aged seventy-five years. 
Emigrated from Plymouth, Conn., in 1813. 

In Plymouth, O., October 11, 1865, Lucy C, wife of Darius Van 
Slyke, and daughter of Elias Cook Upson, aged twenty-nine years ; also 
on the 15th inst., an infant daughter, aged nine days. 

In Plymouth, O., September 30, 1862, Chauncey Blakeslee, .son of 
John Blakeslee, aged thirty-nine years. Died in Plymouth O., Decem- 
ber 23, 1880, Mrs. Lucy Blake.slee Ross, a daughter of John Blakeslee, 
aged about sixty-five years, widow of the late Felix Ross. 

Died in Ea.st Ashtabula, December 15, 1S80, Maria Mann, daughter 
of Zadoc Mann, and relict of the late Collins Wetmore, aged eighty-four 
years. 

In East Ashtabula, O., May 30, 1880, Minerva, wife of Collins E. 
Mann (son of Joseph), aged fifty-seven years. 

In Ashtabula, O., October i, 1880, Mrs. Rebecca F. Mann, the late 
relict of Wm. Warner Mann, aged seventy-one years and six months. 

In Plymouth, O., February 4, 1884, Mrs. Lucy C. Mann, wife of 
Hiram E. Mann, aged sixty-seven years (formerly Lucy C. Judd of 
Connecticut.) 

Died in Lenox, O., February 13, 1886, Mrs. Helen Harper Graham, 
granddaughter of Joseph Mann, and wife of Joseph Graham. 

Died at Independence, Iowa, October 6, 1895, Mr. Cassius Mann 
Matthews, only son of Isaac and the late Amanda Mann Matthews, aged 
fifty-one years. 



43^ 



HUSTOKY OF PLYMOUTH. 



Died in Plymouth, O., November 5, 1895, Edgar Orson, son of 
Orson H. and Marj' Mann, aged thirty-one years. Died in Plymouth, 
O., December 6, 1S95, aged seventy-seven years, Mrs. Julia Mann Sey- 
mour, widow of the late Wm. R. Seymour; she was a daughter of Jos- 
eph Mann and sister of Austin and Orson Mann, of Plymouth ; she was 
the mother of ten children, seven of whom survive her. 

RE-UMON OF THE DESCENDANTS OF PLYMOUTH, CONN., FAMILIES. 

Of the families that went from Plymouth, Conn., in 1S13, there are 
now some 400 descendants of the Manns, Blakeslees, and Seymours. It 
was decided to hold a re-union of those living June 20, 1895, at Woodland 
Beach Park, near Ashtabula, Ohio. It was not as largely attended as 
could be wished, on account of the heavy rain which commenced quite 
early in the day and continued far into the night, thus making it impos- 
sible for many to get there. A goodly number, however, were on hand 




First Store and Pubt Oftict 



early, and although the rain made it unpleasant in some respects, the 
affair was a grand success. There were about 150 or more people pres- 
ent, of which M'ere recorded 119 names of relatives. 

The occasion was indeed a very pleasant one. After some time 
spent in visiting, dinner was served, which was truly bountiful and ex- 
cellent. Dinner was followed by a business meeting, R. O. Rote of 
Geneva, being chairman of the meeting, and Francis Atwater of Meri- 
den, Conn., acting as secretary. After a few brief remarks, the Mann, 
Blakeslee and Seymour Re-union Association was duly organized, and 
the following officers were elected: President, William Seymour; vice 
president, Mrs. Maria Seymour Ticknor; secretary, Mrs. Ellen S. 
Mann Lockwood ; treasurer, Fred W. Blakeslee. 

A committee of three, on date of next meeting, were elected. After 
which came the reading of letters from absent ones. 

The first was from Bela Blakeslee Satterlee, of Plymouth, Conn., 
containing a goodly munber of "Town Orders" given to different men. 



PI.YMOUTll, 0;ilO. 437 

Among them were Zadoc I\Iann, Titus Seymour, Abel Seymour, Jude 
Blakeslee, Bela Blakeslee, Asher Blakeslee, Aaron Dunbar, and others 
and bearing date from 1793 to i8og, signed by Gen. Daniel Potter, Capt. 
Oliver Stoughton, Samuel Blakeslee, Elijah Warner and others, 
"Selectmen of the town." 

Then came a letter from Isaac ]\Iatthe\vs, of IMcGregor, Iowa, in 
which he gave a brief description of the town of Plymouth, Ohio, from 
1835 to 1850, speaking of many of the pioneers who have passed to the 
great beyond, but are not forgotten. 

A postal card from Mrs. Olive Mann Isbell, was read, expressing 
many regrets that she could not attend, sending congratulations and 
messages of love to all. 

A very excellent letter from Austin W. Buffum of Tecumseh, Nelj- 
raska, in which a desire to be remembered, is earnestly expressed ; also 
a letter from Mr. and Mrs. George W. Buffum, with regrets that dis- 
tance would not allow their attendance. One from Mrs. Betsey Gordon 
of Plymouth. Conn. Postal from Mrs. Emma Satterlee Fuller of Cleve- 
land. A letter from Mr. Geo. Satterlee of Chicago, in which ill liealth 
prevented attendance. Letters from L. W. and John H. I\Iann of 
Ocala, Fla. , with best wishes to all. A letter from Mrs. Eleanor Paine 
was noticed, wishing to know if Milton Phelps was yet alive. 

Others were from Carlos A. ilann of Portland, Oregon, and ^Ir. 
Henr}'- Seymour of Waupacca, Wis., all of which tell of the love that 
binds us together in kindred affection. 

Those pi'esent were : 

Mrs. Ellen S. Mann Lockwood, Plymouth, Ohio. 

Mrs. Frankie Mann Warner and one child, j\Ir. Wilber Warner, 
Mrs. O. H. Mann, Orson H. Mann, son of Joseph, Mrs. Edgar O. 
Mann and two children, Edgar O. Mann, grandson of losei^h, Plv- 
mouth, O. 

:\Ir. and :\Irs. O. Perry Mann, son of Merritt, ]\Iiss Flora M. Mann, 
Frank L. Mann, Charles T. Mann, Earl T. Mann, Plymouth, O. 

James L. Flint, 221 West Prospect street, Ashtabula, O. ; Mrs. 
Esther Mann Flint, daughter of B. P. ]\Iann; George Porteus Flint. 
Estella M. Flint, Sarah Flint, James Beilby Flint. 

Milan M. Seymour, Walter Seymour, 276 Euclid avenve, grand- 
children of Wm. R. Seymour, Cleveland, O, 

Merrick J. Seymour, son of Wm. R. Seymour; ]\Irs. Harriet Blakes- 
lee Seymour, daughter of L. P. Blakeslee, John Mann Seymour, William 
Merrick Seymour, Plymouth, O. 

Miss Lucy E. Topper, Fred Porteus Topper, grandchildren of B. 
Porteus Mann, East Plj-mouth, O. 

Mrs. Mary Castle Fulkerson, daughter of Electa Mann Castle, and 
granddaughter of Joseph Mann, and daughter, Mrs. Adell Fulkerson 
Smith, D. S. Fulkerson, Geneva, O. 

Fred W. Blakeslee, son of Garwood Blakeslee, Mrs. Fred W. 
Blakeslee, and two sons, Ashtabula, O. 

Norman Colby and child, Mrs. Estella Amidon Colby, daughter of 
Emily Seymour Amidon, daughter of Julia ]\Iann Se3'mour, daughter of 
Jo.seph Mann. H. C. DeGroodt, and Mrs. ilattie Amidon DeGroodt. 



43S 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



Chauncey Amidon and son, Moses, j\Irs. Emily .Seymour Amidon, 
Ashtabula, O. 

Austin W. Mann, son of Joseph Mann, Ashtabula, (). 

Frank E. Harmon and wife, Mrs. Emeline Seymour Harnn)n, who 
great grandfather was Zadoc, grandfather Warner, on her mother's 
side ; her mother was Sevea Mann, her grandmother was Amanda Mann, 
wife of Warner, and daughter of Bela Blakeslee, and granddaughter of 
Jude. Mrs. Harmon's father was Bennett, son of Titus Seymour, and 
his mother was Sevea Blakeslee ; so she is directly related to all three 
families — Manns, Blakeslees and Seymours. 

James White, whose mother was Fannie, daughter of Zadoc Mann, 
had with him his daughter and one child ; her name was Lucy White 
Harvey. 

Mrs. Hobart Blakeslee, (Hobart, son of John), Miss Lucy Blakeslee, 
Charles Blakeslee, Mrs. Charles Blakeslee, Ashtabula, O. 

William .Seymour (son of Robert), ^Nlrs. William .Seymour, Ashta- 
bula, O. 

Frank Harper, son of Loyd Mann Harper, son of Betsy Mann 
Harper, daughter of Joseph, East Plymouth, O. 




View in PIviiiDUtl) Cuinelt 



Allen H. Morgan, son of Julia Mann Mt)rgan, daughter of Wm. 
Warner Mann; Mrs. Hattie Morgan and cliildren — Grace, Tommy, 
Hazel, Jasper, Howard, Morgan — East Plymouth, O. 

Julia Blakeslee, daughter of Levi P. Blakeslee, Ashtabula, O, 

Mrs. Julia Blair, granddaughter of Henry Jude Blakeslee Sevmour, 
Ashtabula, O. 

Oliver Perry, Clayton Perry, Mrs. Flora Ticknor Perry, daughter 
of Maria Seymour Ticknor, Grigg's Corners, O. 

Miss Mae Mann, daughter of Watson E. Mann, son of Beilbv Por- 
teus Mann, son of Warner, son of Zadoc, Astabula, O. 

Kate .Seymour, Alice Seymour, Clarence .Seymour, cliildren of Rev. 
Edward .Seymour, supposed to be relatives — cannot trace readily. 



PLYMOUTH, OHIO. 439 

Elder Edwin Dibell, claims distant relationship to one of Great 
Grandfather Zadoc Mann's wives, Kingsville, O. 

Frank E. Mann, son of Austin, son of Joseph, Plymouth, O. ; Wil- 
fred ]\I. Mann, son of Austin, son of Joseph; Mrs. Mira I. Mann, wife 
of Wilfred, and daughter of Beilb}^ Porteus Mann, and children — Grace 
Minerva, Ethel Lorena, George Kenneth Mann — East Plymouth, O. 

Frank Layton Pancost, grandson of B. P. ]\Iann, and son of Ellen 
Mann Pancost Lockwood ; Alice Gary Lockwood, daughter of Ellen ,S. 
Lockwood, East Plymouth, O. 

Mrs. Maria Seymour Ticknor, wife of Edmimd Ticknor, and daugh- 
of Henr^' Jude Blakeslee Seymour and granddaughter of Titus Sey- 
mour, Maria Mann Wetmore ; and ^liss Louise Elida Ticknor, Grigg's 
Corners, Ashtabula, (). 

Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hine, daughter of H. J. B. Seymour, ]ames 
Hine, Zoe Hine, Huber Hine, Ashtabula O. 

Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Ashley, and child, North Richmond, Ashtabula, 
County, O. 

Mrs. Louise Harmon Dickson (granddaughter of Bennct Seymour, 
daughter of Emeline Seymour Harmon), and baby, Dorothy Dickson, 
Charles Clare Dickson, Ashtabula, O. 

Beilby Porteus Mann, John Henry ]\Iann (sons of Warner ^lann 
and grandsons of Zadoc), Plymouth, O. 

John Josiah ]\Iorgan (son of Julia Mann Morgan), East Pljniiouth, O. 

Reuben Hall (son of Lucy Seymour Hall, daughter of Ziba Sey- 
mour, brother of Titus Seymour), Dover, O. James Hall, mo Bloom- 
field street, Hoboken, New Jersey. 

Byron Mann, Mrs. Charlotte Mann and daughter, Jessie Adella 
Mann, Cherry Valley, Ashtabula County, O. 

Solomon Phillips, Mrs. Eva Robinson (daughter of Ruth Mann 
Phillips, daughter of Warner ]\Iann by second wife), and Gertrude Mann 
Robinson, Aki'on, O. 

Francis Atwater, Meriden, Conn. 

L. L. Blakeslee and wife, vS. E. Blakeslee and wife, J. A. Blakeslee 
and wife, Mr. Paden and wife, i\Ir. Ferine, Colebrook, Ashtabula 
County, O. 

THE FIRST AMERICAN TEACHER IN CALIFORNIA. 

Mrs. Olive Mann Lsbell, now living in Santa Paula, Vetura county, 
was one of the earliest pioneers, and teacher of the first American school 
in California. She went from Plymouth, Ohio. 

October i, 1846, an emigrant train of twenty-one wagons — escorted 
by Col. John C. Fremont and a detachment of soldiers who had met 
them at Johnson's ranch — arrived at Sutter's Fort. Capt. Sutter wel- 
comed them with characteristic cordialty, and did everything possible 
for their comfort. This company, commanded by Capt. John Aram 
and Dr. I. C. lsbell, had left Illinois, in April, for California, with no 
definite knowledge of its location, except that it was somewhere on the 
Pacific Coast. They had made their pathless way over plains, desert 
and mountains. By some mischance they failed to meet the Donner 
party at the INIississippi ; passed them at Gravelly Ford ; left them there 
in a quarrel — and thus narrowly escaped their tragic fate. At Fort 



440 



HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. 



Hall they learned from panic-stricken refugees returning to the States 
that war with Mexico had been declared. A council was called to de- 
cide whether they should go forward or back. AVomen cried and begged 
to be taken home; men were divided in opinion. "What shall we do, 
Olive ? " said Dr. Isbell. The stout-hearted matron of twenty-two re- 
plied, " I started for California, and I want to go on." That settled it. 
Others took heart, and the train went on undivided. After resting a 
week at Sutter's Fort, under orders from Fremont, they proceeded to 
the Santa Clara Mission, 150 miles south, and reached it October 16. 
The old adobe building of the Mission was not an inviting shelter to 
the homesick immigrants, if shelter it could be called at all. There were 
no floors but the hard-baked earth, no windows, no fire-places, no escape 




Mrs. Olive M. Isbell. 



for smoke, save a hole in the roof. The ancient walls were infested, 
and the crumbling tiles let the rain through almost as copiously as 
it fell outside. The section assigned them had been previously used 
for stabling horses. 

Col. Fremont left a few men to protect the women and children, 
and took all the able bodied to re-inforce his small army, preparing to 
move southward to join Stockton at San Diego. Dr. Lsbell enlisted as 
surgeon, and went as far as the Salinas river. Here he was seized with 
" emigrant fever" (typhoid pneumonia), which compelled his return to 
the Missian, where by that time the fever had become epidemic. The 



PLYMOUTH, OHIO. 44I 

rains came early that year, with strong southwest winds. There was 
no physician nearer than St. Jose, and he to be had but once a week. 
From their well stocked medicine chest Mrs. Isbell distributed on an 
average one hundred doses of medicines a day, and for six weeks slept 
in a chair by her sick husband's side. They were in an enemy's coun- 
try, expecting daily to be attacked. Indications of treachery led them 
to send a messenger to Capt. Webber at San Jose for additional protec- 
tion. He in turn sent to Yerba Buena for Capt. Marsten with a com- 
pany of twenty-live marines and one cannon drawn on an ox-cart. The 
first intimation the immigrants had that help was near was the re- 
port of firearms in the distance. Climbing on the wall they saw the 
soldiers trying to pull the cannon out of the mud, while the natives, 
concealed in the chaparral, were firing at them. Capt. Marsten rode up 
and asked the loan of a white cloth for a flag of truce ; and Mrs. Isbell 
gave her wedding pocket-handkerchief for the purpose. 

In this skirmish two soldiers were wounded: one in the fleshy part 
of the leg, the other in the head. Mrs. Isbell and Mrs. Aram dressed 
the wounds and prepared dinner for the hungry soldiers. This was the 
much disputed battle of "Santa Clara," as seen by an eye witness. 
Mrs. Isbell had spent several nights in cleaning firearms and running 
bullets— determined, if attacked, to aid in the defense. Another com- 
pany of soldiers from Santa Cruz arrived soon after. 

The winter was marked by unusual cold and over-abundant raius, 
and tested the endurance of the settlers. Flour at $8 a barrel was be- 
yound their .slender purses, so they subsisted on government rations, 
glad to be saved from starvation. The few who kept well were taxed 
beyond their strength in ministering to the sick, and many died under 
distressing conditions. 

Near the end of December Mrs. Isbell was persuaded to open a 
school. A room fifteen feet square, too dilapidated for any other pur- 
pose, was obtained. It was damp, dark and dirty; and after suffering 
several days with eyes smarting from smoke, they were obliged to fore- 
go the luxury of fire. The school supj^lies were limited to a few text- 
books, brought by the various families. A daughter of Capt. Aram, 
now living in Los Angeles, says she remembers distinctly her struggles 
with the letter E. For want of black-board, slates or paper, the teacher 
printed it on the back of her hand with a lead, pencil. There were 
twenty-five pupils and the term continued two months. It was the first 
American school in the State. 

In the Spring of '47 Dr. Isbell and wife went to Monterey, where 
she was induced to resume her work. The school opened with twenty- 
five scholars, but soon increased to fifty-six. At the close of the term, 
three months, the teacher left the school-room for ranch life at French 
Camp. 




Sugar Camp, Plymouth. Ohio. 



NDEX— Chapters. 



CHAPTER I. 
THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH. 

Act of Incorporation, Describing the Boundry Lines and the Stipulations to be 
Abided Bv— Disposition of the poor of the Old Town — List of Incorporators— Grand 
List— First Officers— Full List of Representatives, Judges of Probate and Town 
Clerks. Page 7. 

CHAPTER II. 
EARLY HISTORY. 

The Wilderness of the Naugatuck Valley First Penetrated by a Hunting Party 
in 1657.— Tunkis Tribe of Indians Original Proprietors— Part of Waterbury, Later 
Parish of Northburj', and One Hundred Years Ago Incorporated as Town of 
Plymouth. Page ig. 



CHAPTER III. 
CHURCH inSTORY. 



St. Peter's Episcopal Parish Established in 1740— Its Ministers and Other Inter- 
esting Facts— St. ^Matthew's Church, Now Closed— Terryville Congregational 
Society, with vSketches of Pastors— Roman Catholic Mission — The Defunct Second 
Advent Chapel. Page 45. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE "WILDERNESS" AND INDIANS. 
Most of Litchfield County in 1712 an Unbroken Forest as Absolute as any on the 
Continent — Last Deer Shot in Northbury — Indian Jack and Two Companions Were 
the Only Indians in Plymouth Within the Remembrance of People Now Living. 
Page 68^ 

CHAPTER V. 

SOME OF THE PIONEERS. 

Sketch of Henry Cook, the First Settler, Together with Other Biographies of 

His Followers who Petitioned to Make Northbury a Separate and Distinct Parish. 

Location of Their Homes, Value of Estates, and What Disposition was made 

of them. Page 75. 

CHAPTER VI. 
REVOLUTIONARY TIMES. 
The History ]\[ore or Less Uncertain — Hot-Bed of Toryism — Northbury the 
Home of the Only Tory Known to Have Been Executed in Connecticut — La.st Pen- 
sioner of the W^ar Born in This Parish, With a Sketch of His Life and Enlistment. 
Page 92. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE CIVIL WAR. 
There Were no More Loyal or Brave Soldiers than the Sons of Plymouth. Sev- 
eral of W^hom Gained Honorable Distinction, while Others Met Untimely Deaths 
at the Front and in the Very Heat of Battle— Roster of Those Enlisting or Belong- 
ing to the Town. Page gg. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

How They Were Conducted in Early Times— The Cost Borne by an Assessment 
on Each Parent, W^ho was also Required to Furnish Cord Wood and Board the 
Teacher a Certain Time — Anecdotes Told About the Old Instructors— Half of the 
Present Town Taxes Spent on Education. Page 123. 



CHAPTER IX. 
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 

Preliminary Meetings Held and Plans Perfected for the Celebration of the 
Centennial Anniversary of the Town of Plymouth— Complete Account of the 
Exercises, Including the Speeches of Judge A. P. Bradstreet and Other Orators of 
the Day. Page 13s. 



II. 

CHAPTER X. 

CLOCK MAKERS. 

Plymouth Made Famous by the Invention of Eli Terry, who was the Founder 

of the Clock Business of America — Other Prominent Makers, such as Seth Thomas, 

Silas Hoadle_v, Samuel Camp, and Chauncy Jerome, were all Natives of this Town. 

Page 219. 

CHAPTER XL 

LOCK MAKERS. 
Troubles Which Beset the Pioneers of the Cabinet and Trunk Lock Business 
That was Established in America by Terryville Men of Indomitable Will and 
Pluck — Sketches and Portraits of All — E. L. Gaylord, the Only Survivor, Lives in 
Bridgeport. Page 240. 

CHAPTER XII. 

ANDREW TERRV & CO. 

Sketch of the Founder of This Prosperous Concert: which was One of the 

Pioneers in the Malleable Iron Industry — The Men who Have Successfully Managed 

and Kept it Running as Steadily Nearly as Clock Work for Close on' to Half a 

Century. Page 265. 

CHAPTER XIII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKE rCHES. 

Interesting Reading About Past and Present People of Plymouth, Commencing 
with Jtidge Augustus H. Fenn, Now the Foremost (_)f those who reside elsewhere, 
and Many Others who Have Attained Wordly Fame — Illustrations of Subjects and 
Buildings. Page 273. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

SOCIETIES. 

Plymouth Grange, No. 72, Patrons of Husbandry, Organized December 7, 1S77 — 
Sedgwick Council, No. 21, O. L^. A. M., Instituted March 16, 1887— Court Nutmeg, 
No. 1404, Chartered October 20, 1803 — The Terrj'ville Cemetery, With Views From 
Several Points. Page 421. 



CHAPTER XV. 

PLYMOUTH, OHIO. 

Offshoot of Its Namesake in Connecticut and the Fir.st Episcopal Parish in the 

State of Ohio— Descendants of These F^arly Settlers, Numbering Four Hundred or 

More, Organize Themselves as the "Mann, Blakeslee and Seymour Re-union 

Association." Page 425. 



Index— Illustrations. 

Page 

Plymouth Training Ground 2 

South Street, Plymouth 8 

Main Street, Plymouth 8 

Winter Scene, South Street, Plymouth 8 

Old Grave Yard, Plymouth 

Thomaston Reservoir, on Plyn-;outh Hill 

Falls at Greystone, Plymouth 

Gorge, Devil's Backbone, Plymouth 

Articles used to Seal Weights and Measures 

Pastoral Scene in Plymouth 

Circular Dam, Pequabuck 

Wooden Bridge at Thomaston, Recently Demolished 

Main Street, Terryville 20 

Four Corners, Terryville 20 

Terryville School Children, i860 20 

Old Carriage Shop, Plymouth Hill 22 

Plymouth Hill School Hou.se 22 

Fir.st Iron Bridge Over the Naugatuck 22 

Terryville W'atering Trough 24 

Main Street, Terryville 24 

Street in Terryville 24 

Official Sheep Marks 26 

Smith Homestead, Plj-mouth Center 26 

Town Building, Plymouth Center 28 



III. 

Town Hall, Terry ville .^^^| 

Interior of Town Hall 28 

Rev. Luther Hart 

Mrs. Luther Hart 

First Congregational Church 

Rev. I.P.Warren 

Rev. Ephraim Lyman ,2 

Rev. E. J. Hawes 

Rev. R. C. Learned 

Rev. H. E. Cooler [[[ .,6 

Rev. E. B. Hillard [] ^6 

Rev. J. S. Zelie ' 3 

Rev. C. H. Smith \[ ^g 

Rev. Dr. Biirhans 

Rev. \Vm. Watson 

44 

St. Peter's Episcopal Church 

Rev. David Lunsden g 

Rev. B. Eastwood g 

Rev. Emerson Jessup 3 

Rev. J. M. Bates 3 

Interior View, St. Peter's Episcopal Church ^q 

Rev. N. T. Scudder ^o 

Rev. W. E. Hooker jo 

Rev. James Gammack ,2 

St. Peter's Episcopal Church Parsonage -2 

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, East Plymouth 53 

Congregational Church, Terry ville ., 

Interior, Terry ville Congregational Church ^4 

Rev. Nathaniel Richardson .5 

Rev. Merrill Richardson .g 

Parsonage, Terry ville Congregational Church 57 

Rev. Edwin R. Diniock _3 

Rev. Franklin A. Spencer -3 

Rev. H. B. Mead 60 

Rev. L. S. (Iriggs 60 

Rev. W. F. Arms 62 

Rev. Wm. Alfred Gay 62 

Terryville Congregational Church Clock 6^ 

Interior, Terryville Roman Catholic Church 65 

Rev. M. J. Daly 66 

Terryville Roman Catholic Church 66 

Two Views of Jack's Ledge ,2 

Lemuel Cook, Last Pensioner of the Rcvolutionarv War q4 

Gen. Erastus Blakeslee 08 

Capt. Eugene Atwater joo 

Redoubt B, near Fort Alexandria, Va 102 

Officers, Second Conn. Heavy Artillery 102 

Surprise at Cedar Creek 104 

Explosion of the Mine at Petersburg 104 

The Battle of the Crater 106 

Upton's Brigade at Bloody Angle 106 

Burying the Dead log 

Cemetery at Andersonville 108 

Dorence Atwater no 

Andersonville Stockade, Showing the Dead Line no 

The Battle of Winchester n. 

Union Breastworks at Cold Harbor 112 

Pequabuck School House 128 

Terryville Institute 128 

Interior Congregational Church, Plymouth, where Centennial Services were held 170 

Tent on Baldwin Park, Terryville, where Centennial Services were held 170 

Loan Exhibit, General View ig8 

Exhibit of Furnitiire igS 

Clock Exhibit 202 



IV. 

Page 

Exhibit of Paintings 202 

Miscellaneous Exhibit 204 

Eli Terry 218 

Copy of Patent Granted Eli Terry 222 

Profile Portrait of Eli Terry 224 

Profile Portrait of Mrs. Eli Terry 224 

Home of Eli Terry, Jr 226 

Eli Terry, 3d 226 

Henry Terry 228 

Henry K. Terry 228 

Henry K. Terry, Jr 230 

Dwight H. Terry 230 

Silas Hoadley 232 

Samuel Camp 232 

Hiram Camp 234 

Seth Thomas 234 

The Seth Thomas Clock Works 235 

Stephen G. Bucknall 242 

John C. Lewis 244 

Sereno Gaylord 244 

William E. McKee 246 

Mother of William E. McKee 246 

James Terry .• 248 

James Terry's Cottaire 248 

E. L. Gaylord 250 

Joseph H. Adams 250 

Ansel Gaylord 252 

Deacon R. D. H. Allen • 252 

Warren Goodwin 254 

James Mix 254 

Elisha :Mix 256 

James C. Mix 256 

Frank W. Mix 258 

W' illard T. Good win 258 

Edward H. ilix 262 

Henry T. Wheeler 262 

The First Lock Shop 264 

The Old Foundry, Front and Rear Views 266 

Andrew Terry 268 

J. W. Clark 26S 

N. Taylor Baldwin 270 

O. D. Hunter 270 

J. W. Clark's Residence 272 

O. D. Htmter's Residence 272 

Judge Augustus H. Fenn 274 

Homer E. Cook 276 

J. W. Pond 276 

Marshall W^. Leach 27S 

Jason Clemence 278 

Augustus Von Martensen 280 

Mrs. Rosina Martensen 2S0 

Louis C. Scheuing 282 

Julius G. Beach 282 

James Hunter 284 

J. B. Baldwin 284 

George H. Plumb 288 

Gaius Fenn Warner 288 

Jtmius Preston 292 

Henry A. Minor 2Q2 

Dr. R. S. Goodwin 2g6 

Dr. S. T. Salisbury 2q6 

Dr. F. J. Whittemore 2g8 

Dr. C. W. Bull 2q8 

Sarah K. Tollcs Plumb 300 



3o6 



George Pierpont ,qq 

Mrs. Joseph C. Alcox „2 

A. Bronson Alcott ^02 

Louisa M. Alcott -,„, 

Milo Blakeslev ,_, 

Mrs. Milo Blakeslev ,^(5 

A. M. Blakeslev 

A. P. Bradstreet 

Frank W. Etheridge ^^g 

Captain Leavitt Darrow -,^2 

Aaron D. Wells ,J2 

Riley Scott ,j 

Edwin M. Talniadge ,, 

W. W. Bull 'i6 

Mrs. Betsy Bull '^^g 

Residence of Wm. W. Bull ,jg 

Quiet House, Plymouth ,,jg 

Edward Langdon ^20 

Birthplace of Edward Langdon ,20 

Residence owned by Mrs. George Langdon 

George Langdon 

Mrs. Timothy Atwater, Jr 

Wyllys Atwater 

Henry Atwater 

Barnabas \V. Root ],26 

Jonathan Pond's Homestead ,28 

Alexander Pond 

E. L. Pond's Residence 

Andrew Stoughton 

Jvhn yi. Ward well , 

Residence of W. G. Barton 

Joseph C. Barthe 

Alfred B. Renfree 

Algelon H. Taylor 

Dr. W. W. Wellington ^^5 

Gaius Fenn ^,3 

Jason Fenn . -,!,g 

Elam Fenn , ._ 

340 

Jlrs. Elam Fenn , ,„ 



322 
322 

324 
324 
126 



328 
33° 
330 
332 
332 
334 
334 
336 



Old Todd Apple Tree 

Elam A. Fenn 

The Fenn Homestead 

Jason C. Fenn 

Rev. Leverett Griggs 

J. C. Griggs 348 

Thomas Bunnell ,52 

Lvman Tolles ,-, 

Milo Tomlinson ,-, 

Rev. Moseley H. Williams ,54 

Thomas F. Higgins ,56 

William Robinson's Residence 3^6 

Philip C. Ryan jjg 

The Ryan Homestead ^cg 

William B. Ells 360 

Richard Baldwin's Residence, Terryville 360 

Henry E. Hinman 362 

Andrew Gay lord's Residence ,62 

Bennett H. Sutliffe 364 

Bennett H. Sutliffe's Residence ^g. 

Joel Blakeslee -,55 

Gen. Erastus Blakeslee ^66 

Oliver Smith ,gg 

Byron Tuttle 36g 

Residence of Bvron Tuttle ,,„ 



ACt 



VI. 

Page 

Byron Tuttle's Birthplace 37o 

Store— W. H. Scott & Co 372 

Storehovise— W. H. Scott & C( 372 

Saw Mill— W. H. Scott & Co 374 

Coal and Wood Yards, Waterbury— W. H. Scott & Co 374 

Walter H. Scott 376 

W. H. Scott's Residence ■ 37^ 

Z. F. Granniss •' 37S 

Residence of Z. F. Granniss 378 

Beach & Blackmer's Store 380 

Nathan Beach 380 

D. W. C. Skilton 382 

Porter Sanford 38 ■ 

B. B. Satterlee 384 

Hiram Pierce 3S4 

Henry S. Minor 388 

Hiram Minor 388 

Burr S. Beach 39° 

Dr. William Woodruff 39° 

R. G. Johnson 392 

F. T. Cook 392 

Philo Lewis 394 

Lyman Baldwin 394 

T. J. Bradstreet 396 

George T. Cook 396 

E. L. Perkins' Residence 398 

Prosper Warner 398 

David D. Warner 400 

Markham Scott 400 

Residence of Mrs. G. H. Bates 402 

F. H. Kellogg 402 

- J. S. Hemingway 404 — 

Enos Blakeslee 4^4 

Hon. John Birge 406 

John Henry Wood 406 

A. B. Curtis 408 

Chloe Cook Barnes ■^°^-^^\t,<-'- «-; Ml 

Elias Smith 410 i 

Elias Smith Homestead 410 

Joel Griggs 412 

Martin Griggs 412 

Franklin P. Wilcox • 414 

Wilbert N. Austin 414 

A. S. Kelsey 416 

Andrew Fenn 416 

Andrew Fenn Homestead 418 

Mrs. Benjamin Fenn 418 

L. H. Ploucquet, Master, Plymouth Grange 420 

General Sedgwick 420 

L. W. Belden, Chief Ranger 422 

Terry ville Cemetery— View from Southeast Corner 422 

Soldiers' Monument 424 

View from Northeast Corner 424 

New Addition to Westward 424 

View of Center of Cemetery 425 

PLYMOUTH, Ohio. 

St. Matthew's Church 430 

St. Matthew's Church Parsonage 432 

Plymouth School 434 

First Store and Post Office 436 

View in Plymouth Cemetery • 438 

Mrs. Olive M. Isbell 440 

Sugar Camp 442 






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